The St. Tammany Farmer 06-11-2025 by The Advocate

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MUSIC

Caroline Tebbs, accompanied by Greg Barnhill and Sean Murray, performs at the Slidell Little Theatre. The Slidell-born performer recently moved to Nashville to study music at university and released her debut album ‘Good Enough.’

Singer-songwriters sound off on stage in Slidell

Staff report

The OZONE Sound-Off on May 30 welcomed a group of ambitious singer-songwriters to the stage of the Slidell Little Theatre, a midyear fundraiser-performance that delivered a night of original music and generated plenty of anticipa-

tion for the three-day OZONE Songwriter Festival in Covington Oct. 31 through Nov 2. The evening was headlined by Emmywinning, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Greg Barnhill, the OZONE Music Foundation president and founder, and

organized by Christine Barnhill Tramel. The event showcased emerging singersongwriters Madison & Stephen McDonald, Caroline Tebbs, Laine Bleu and Hannah Belle All proceeds will be used in the foundation’s mission to help shape the next generation of music creators and industry professionals.

Parish plans

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

More than three years after St. Tammany Parish’s Planning Commission adopted a long-range land development plan that sparked heated opposition by some who said it had been poorly studied, the Parish Council formally weighed in last week to satisfy an order handed down by a judge.

The council adopted a resolution concurring with the Planning Commission’s decision and saying that the necessary studies had been conducted.

The dispute over the plan, called “New Directions 2040,” had raised questions about the future of one of the fastest growing parishes in the state, as it tries to balance the preservation of its natural environment with its rapid growth, as well as what role residents will play in the shaping of that future.

The plan, adopted by the Planning Commission in May 2022, broadly outlines future development in the parish Opponents argued there was insufﬁcient public comment on the ﬁnal version, as well as inadequate study, especially about the component of the plan that designates 17,000 acres across St. Tammany for manufacturing and warehouse development.

“You’re talking about a major reconfiguration of this parish,” Joan Simon told the council at its June 5 meeting.

Simon is one of dozens of residents who tried to appeal the plan and filed suit against the parish in court, along with Orleans Audubon Society Simon told the council the plan’s proposed logistics corridor could affect the air, water, traffic and fire control, “basically making us a hub of the port of New Orleans.”

ä See PLAN, page 2A

Editor’s note: There was such a positive response to our “Where Are They Now?” stories last year that we’re bringing the series back to the pages of the St. Tammany Farmer this summer We asked that question again recently, looking for some of the best athletes in local sports history Then we went out and found them. Each edition this summer, we’ll reacquaint readers with one of these familiar faces We’ll take a deep dive into stories that began in youth leagues, continued at local high schools and then colleges near and far Many of these homegrown talents played professionally, too, reaching the pinnacle of athletic achievement. This week, we feature St Scholastica soccer starturned sommelier-turned drone photography entrepreneur Tricia Johnson.

Soccer standout left the game, but not before it shaped her

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

St. Scholastica alumna Tricia Johnson always loved soccer, and it showed.

The 5-foot-11 standout was named the 2009 Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year and played two seasons at LSU before hanging up her cleats.

Since stepping away from soccer, the now 34-year-old mother-to-be — she’s expecting a baby boy in September has been all over the world and owns her own drone photography business.

And she says soccer played a huge role in the person she became.

“It was the sport that I loved, “Johnson said. “I did a lot of other sports, but soccer just held a special place in my heart. And that came back to the coaches because Coach Mike (Ortner) made it such

Three teens indicted in death of Sgt. Grant Candies

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

A St Tammany Parish jury has indicted three teenagers from Slidell in the death of a sheriff’s deputy who was killed during a high-speed police chase Sgt. Grant Candies, 37, was struck and killed while putting down a spike strip on an Interstate 10 onramp near the Oak Harbor exit near Slidell as he tried to stop the speeding vehicle on March 23.

The grand jury indicted the vehicle’s driver, Adrian Waughtal, 17, and one of the passengers, Mason Paul Eugene Fischer, 17, with charges of seconddegree murder, northshore District Attorney Collin

PHOTO BY MATT DOBBINS

PROVIDED PHOTO

St. Scholastica alum Tricia Johnson Candies

STANDOUT

Continued from page 1A

an amazing experience.” Johnson picked up the sport at a young age She jokingly mentioned that when she was watching old home movies recently, it was like “a blob of kids following the ball.”

It quickly became more as the 4-year-old grew up quickly and helped the Doves take home state titles in 2007 and 2009, while also playing for the Mandeville Lakers Premier team of the Mandeville Soccer Association.

Then came the Gatorade Player of the Year award in 2009 and college soccer. She played in 22 games over two seasons with the Tigers.

“Playing at the college level is a different ballgame,” Johnson said. “For me, it took a bit of the fun out of it. I had a few injuries here and there, which made it harder I sat down with my dad, and I just said, ‘I’m not having fun.’ I was like, ‘Why did I ever start playing soccer in the ﬁrst place?’ Something just took the spark away from it, so I sat down with my coach and said college soccer just wasn’t for me.” And just like that, Johnson was on to her next adventure.

A new chapter Johnson graduated from LSU in 2013 with a major in sports administration and a minor in business.

“I had no earthly idea what I wanted to do,” she

lived there for more than a year

“That was probably my favorite sport ever,” Johnson said. “Margaret River is a really great wine region. It’s literally the opposite side of the world from where I am now It’s on the coast. Beautiful scenery, and it’s a huge surﬁng destination. I got into surﬁng there, which was very humbling.”

Returning home

All of those adventures eventually led Johnson back to the States, ultimately landing near Charleston, South Carolina — Folly Beach, to be exact. She got her sommelier certiﬁcate, but the long hours and nighttime work took a toll So, she started to look for her next adventure.

PLAN

Continued from page 1A

“We should go back to the drawing board and let’s do this right,” she said.

The council’s vote was 130, with Council member Pat Phillips abstaining. Phillips did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Council member Arthur Laughlin said by phone he thought there was little else for the council to do but approve the resolution, despite residents’ objections.

“I can hear you out and say ‘Listen, I believe you’re right,’ ” he said, “but this is not something I make a decision on,” he said about the 2040 plan. He said the decision about the plan ultimately falls on the Planning Commission.

Three years of litigation

A serpentine path led to the June 5 resolution.

When the Planning Commission approved the 2040 zoning plan, lawyers for the parish said the decision could not be appealed.

After a group of residents ﬁled suit, Judge John Keller of the 22nd Judicial District sided with the parish, ﬁnding this was a kind of decision by the Planning Commission that could not be appealed to the Parish Council

But after the state First Circuit Court of Appeal reversed Keller’s decision, the Parish Council held a special meeting for residents. They voiced a range of complaints about the 2040 New Directions Plan.

At the end of the hearing, the council passed a resolution acknowledging the Planning Commission’s decision, but was told by their attorney they did not have

the authority to reverse the Planning Commission’s approval.

Andrew Wilson, a lawyer for the opponents, argued that lawyers for the parish, which is represented by the Northshore District Attorney’s ofﬁce, should be held in contempt of court.

Keller declined to do so but found the Parish Council still needed to speciﬁcally decide whether the Planning Commission had performed or utilized studies required by state and parish law On June 5, the Parish Council did exactly that, with its resolution saying all studies and surveys required by La. Revised Statute 33:107 and St. Tammany Parish Ordinance 120-51(4) had been performed and considered in drafting and adopting the New Directions 2040 and Future Land Use Map. Council member David Cougle asked whether anyone had veriﬁed if the studies had in fact been performed.

“That’s what the judge asked you all to make a decision on,” responded James Bolner, one of the lawyers for the parish. Parish Planning Director Ross Liner then proceeded to list the studies that had been conducted before the development plan was approved, and said they were available for review online.

There was no other discussion among the 14 council members and no other residents spoke besides Simon. It was a quiet conclusion for now to a yearslong debate touching on signiﬁcant questions in the parish about future growth and quality of life. Wilson said by phone a day later they still have the option to appeal the decision to state court.

said. But time away from the sport also ignited a bit of wanderlust, and after graduation, she took what was supposed to be a two-plus week trip to New Zealand. It turned into much more.

“Growing up, I thought my whole world was soccer,” Johnson said. “The whole me wanting to go to New Zealand by myself was shocking to my parents That kind of started me being a free spirit. I wouldn’t change how everything went for the world. I think everything worked out amazingly I really do.”

The once quiet and “painfully shy” Johnson called

her parents about a week into the trip and said she had gotten a work visa to stay in New Zealand That turned into a two-year stay, where she discovered a passion for the wine business.

“Toward the end of my time in New Zealand, I wanted to get more into wine education,” Johnson said. “I signed myself up for a class for six months in Napa, California. I worked at a vineyard and took classes. Then, I was like, I think I need to check out the Australian wine scene.”

She ended up on the western side of Australia in Margaret River about three hours south of Perth. She

In 2021, her soon-to-be-husband had the idea of opening an RV park, so he came home with a 17-foot travel trailer and the duo went on a six-month road trip out west to research parks for recreational vehicles.

That’swhenshediscovered a passion for drone photography, turning what was ﬁrst a hobby into a business as she got her license last year

After nearly three years of marriage to Matt Campbell, Johnson is embarking on her latest journey motherhood.

“I feel too young to be a mom, but I’m very excited,” she said.

Although Johnson hasn’t played in years, she traces her growth as a person back to soccer

“I’ve had some of my hardest conversations with my college coach. I think the sport helped me come out of my shell,” she said. “And also, the ending was unique. You’re supposed to have fun at sports, but it’s not all (that) I am. That was hard. I feel that it is hard for any athlete who stops playing after a long time. You associate yourself with the sport.

“I would say that I swear I’m more than just the sport. I’d be a completely different person if I didn’t have soccer in my life and if I didn’t have the team and coaches that I did growing up. It really made me who I am today, and I’m very thankful for all the relationships I’ve made along the way.”

Contact Joseph Halm at jhalm@sttammanyfarmer net.

PUBLICNOTICE

Notice is hereby givenpursuanttoArticle 7, Section23(C) of theLouisiana Constitution andR.S.47:1705(B) and47:1705.1 that apublic hearingofthe BoardofCommissioners forSt. TammanyFireProtectionDistrictNo. 13 will be heldatCouncil Chambers forthe St.Tammany Parish Councillocated at 21490 Koop Dr., Mandeville, LA,onMonday, July 21, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. to consider levyingadditional or increasedmillagerates withoutfurther voterapprovaloradoptingthe adjusted millagerates after reassessment androlling forwardtorates nottoexceedthe prioryear’s maximum. Theestimated amount of taxrevenues to be collectedinthe next year from the increasedmillageis$4,926,199 andthe estimatedamountofincreaseis$423,638.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Tricia Johnson and her husband, Matt, take a photo with their dogs during their six-month road trip to explore RV parks.

PROVIDED PHOTO Tricia Johnson takes part in a wine-making class in Napa, Calif.

PROVIDED PHOTO Johnson enjoys the scenery as she hikes a glacier in New Zealand.

PROVIDED PHOTO Johnson continues her love of surfing today at her home in Folly Beach, South Carolina.

FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK COOK

SSA’s Tricia Johnson gets past a goalkeeper for a goal during a playoff soccer game against Baton Rouge High in 2008.

Library system remains politically controversial

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

It might have seemed as if St. Tammany’s library controversy would be a thing of the past after its successful tax campaign and the end of a contentious legal battle earlier this year, but there are signs the drama will continue as the parish attempts to ﬁll three seats on the library board in the coming months.

The years of inﬁghting at board meetings and residents’ outcry over the library collection was apparent at a meeting of the Parish Council late last month

Discussion began over two nominees for an open board seat: construction project manager Travis Thompson from Slidell, whose nomination was endorsed by the Republican Parish Executive Committee; and Covington private schoolteacher

Melanie Todd, who said she recently changed her party

afﬁliation to Independent

St. Tammany Parish Council member David Cougle, a founder of the St. Tammany Library Accountability Project, questioned Todd’s decision to change her party affiliation from Democrat, while Jimmy Strickland, the council’s lone Democrat, questioned the relevance of party affiliation to library board membership altogether

The council, which wasn’t expected to determine that nominee until its June 5 meeting, will vote in July whether it will reappoint or replace two newer board members, Dinah Thanars and Jill Kesler

‘Access’ issue

The library board is likely also to see future discussions about what restricting “access” to library materials means. Soon after the controversy over its collection began nearly three years ago, the library adopted a tiered-card system that allows parents to choose what books and other content their children may access.

Library board member Chuck Branton asked the board in April to request an opinion from Attorney General Liz Murrill about what “access” means — whether it means after check out, as

Gov Jeff Landry suggested as attorney general.

The library board decided not to touch the question of “access” at its April meeting, but on May 8, state Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Gray, formally requested that Murrill issue an opinion, nodding to St. Tammany in her letter, which was shared by Cougle on social media.

A federal ruling

The ﬁght over library content seemed like it had the potential to taper off earlier this year

Bucking expectations from the parish’s political class, a majority of St Tammany voters in March approved a tax proposition that will fund the library system for the next 15 years.

The month before, a federal appeals court ended a legal battle against the parish, after it ordered the dismissal of a lawsuit ﬁled by

former library board members, who had argued they were wrongfully removed for expressing support of LGBTQ+ books and other works in the library’s collection.

But if a recent decision by a federal court of appeals, as well as recent council discussion, are any indication, the ﬁght over the library’s collection and its board appears far from reaching a resolution.

A May 23 ruling by the federal appeals court for Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, overturned precedent the court had set in a case coming out of St Tammany In 1995, it found that the St. Tammany Parish School Board had wrongfully removed the book “Voodoo & Hoodoo” from school libraries.

In posts on Facebook, Cougle called the May decision a “massive decision” that

Notice is hereby givenpursuanttoArticle 7, Section23(C) of theLouisiana Constitution andR.S. 47:1705(B)and 47:1705.1 that apublic hearingofthe BoardofCommissioners forSt. TammanyFireProtectionDistrictNo. 13 will be heldatCouncil Chambers forthe St.Tammany Parish Councillocated at 21490 Koop Dr., Mandeville,LA, on Monday,July 21, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. to consider levyingadditional or increasedmillagerates withoutfurther voterapprovaloradoptingthe adjusted millagerates after reassessment androlling forwardtorates nottoexceed theprior year’s maximum. Theestimated amount of taxrevenues to be collectedinthe next year from the increasedmillage is $4,926,199 andthe estimatedamountofincreaseis$423,638.

could affect parish libraries, while Murrill called it a “breath of fresh air.”

A group of Texas residents had sued a Texas county for violating their First Amendment rights after the county’s library removed 17 books like “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the residents in a 10-7 decision, overturning a lower court’s injunction. Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan, who penned the majority opinion, wrote that the residents could not invoke a right to receive

information to challenge a library’s removal of books.

Writing for seven of the 10 judges in the majority Duncan also found a library’s collection was “government speech” and not subject to a free speech challenge.

In a strongly-worded dissent, Judge Stephen Higginson said “hereafter, across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, it simply does not matter legally if public ofﬁcials, motivated by political hostility, target and remove books they deem inappropriate or offensive, in order to deny the public access to the information and ideas

therein.”

Higginson pointed to how the infamous white supremacist Leander Perez attempted to remove all books that showed a liberal viewpoint or spoke favorably of Black people from the Plaquemines Parish library, arguing that recent history demonstrates that libraries can “easily become the sites of frightful government censorship.”

The decision, which is in tension with a recent decision by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in an Iowa case, could set up a showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court.

•Veterans with aVAdisabilityrating of 50% or more maybeentitledtoa Special Exemption in additiontothe Homestead Exemption on theirhome.

•A survivingspouseofa disabledveteran mayalsobeeligible.

•Unlikethe Veterans Freeze, this Special Exemptiondoesnot have an income requirement

•For veterans with thecorrect disabilityrating alreadyﬁledwithour ofﬁce, no further action is needed at this time. Check your AssessmentinAugusttoverify

additional $45,000

Exemption aboveyour 75,000 Homestead Exemption •Ifyou have a100% disability or unemployability youare fully exemptfrom ad valoremtaxes exceptfor municipality taxesorﬁrst$75,000 of value.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD

People line up to enter a St. Tammany Parish Library Board of Control meeting in March 2023.

INDICTED

Continued from page 1A

Sims’ ofﬁce said in a press release. Michael Lanier, 18, another of the passengers, was indicted with manslaughter The St Tammany Sheriff’s Ofﬁce said deputies had tried to stop the vehicle near Slidell after seeing it being operated carelessly, but the vehicle sped off, initiating a pursuit that went into the Slidell city limits and eventually onto I-10. The vehicle continued across the Twin Spans bridge into New Orleans, where it was stopped after striking an NOPD patrol unit.

“It’s just senseless,” said St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith in an interview shortly after Candies’ death. A funeral for Candies, who was a U.S Marine Corps veteran and the son of a longtime

captain in the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce, drew hundreds of law enforcement officers and other mourners to the Harbor Center near Slidell in April.

There were five people in the vehicle that struck Candies, the Sheriff’s Ofﬁce said. When the three teenagers were arrested, they were initially booked with firstdegree murder, in addition to other charges.

Seventeen-year-olds in Louisiana are treated as adults in the criminal justice system, under a law adopted last year In the news release issued June 4, Sims’ ofﬁce said Louisiana state law allows for the death penalty for the murder of a police ofﬁcer However, Sims’ office said, the Supreme Court has ruled the Eighth Amendment forbids the death penalty for offenders who were under 18 at the time of the homicide. A conviction on second-de-

gree murder charges carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

In addition to the seconddegree murder charge, Waughtal, the driver, also was indicted with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle upon a peace officer, aggravated flight from an officer, aggravated obstruction of a highway, obstruction of justice by tampering with evidence and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

Fischer was indicted on a second-degree murder charge, and also with aggravated ﬂight from an ofﬁcer, aggravated obstruction of a highway obstruction of justice by tampering with evidence and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

In addition to the manslaughter charge, Lanier also was indicted for obstruction of justice by tampering with evidence, as well as conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

Local singersongwritier Laine Bleu, a 19-year old talent who grew up on the northshore loving country music, now writes and performs her own. Bleu sang one of her newest tunes, ‘Two Rows Behind Me,’ and explained to the audience how she came to write it.

Event organizer Christine Barnhill Tramel introduces the show. The event featured a raffle to have a catered dinner party with one of the acts performing all in the raffle winner’s home.

Hundreds of police officers from across the state escorted the

STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

hearse that carried the body of Sgt. Grant Candies of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office following a memorial service held April 1 at The Harbor Center near Slidell. Candies was killed in the line of duty on March 23

PHOTOS BY MATT DOBBINS

Stephen and Madison McDonald perform their blend of Christian music (as Laine Bleu looks on).

Hannah Belle, a rising country music performer and a winner of the 2024 OZONE Songwriter Festival, brought her rich experience to the stage.

Local legislators to wrap up action in last session

Staff report

There are two informational legislative events planned in St. Tammany Parish this month to talk about how the most recent Louisiana legislation will impact those who live and work on the northshore.

First is the St. Tammany Chamber’s Legislative Wrap-Up Luncheon on June 18 to hear from members of the northshore legislative delegation at the Tchefuncta Country Club, 2 Country Club Park, near Covington. Networking will begin at 11:30 a.m. with the program from noon until 1 p.m. Admission is $63 for members, $75 for nonmembers, and $700 for a reserved table of eight. Registration is re-

NEWS ROUNDUP

quired at sttammanychamber.org/events. The second, hosted by the East St. Tammany Business Alliance, will take place June 26 at The Harbor Center, 100 Harbor Center Blvd., near Slidell to hear from members of the East St. Tammany delegation. Again, networking will begin at 11:30 a.m. and the main event at noon Go to estbusinessalliance.com/ events website for ticket information.

Everyday Hero award nominations now open

Everyday Hero Award nominations are now being

accepted to recognize individuals and groups that advance the mission of Keep Louisiana Beautiful. Selected recipients will be honored at the Everyday Hero Awards luncheon Sept. 24 at the Crowne Plaza Executive Center in Baton Rouge, held as part of the annual Keep Louisiana Beautiful State Conference.

Those eligible for nomination include nonproﬁts, Keep Louisiana Beautiful afﬁliate organizations, businesses, professional groups, governmental agencies, civic and community organizations, schools, churches and individual citizens.

Anyone may submit a nomination, and multiple nominations may be submitted by the same individual. The online

nomination form is available on the Everyday Hero Award webpage. The deadline for submitting a nomination is July 27.

Awards will be given in 10 categories, including:

n Community Improvement Award for a project, program, campaign or initiative in alignment with the mission and work of Keep Louisiana Beautiful; for-proﬁt and nonproﬁts are eligible.

n Let Louisiana Shine Volunteer Award, named in celebration of Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s statewide litter prevention campaign, will go to a passionate volunteer n Leaders Against Litter Award recognizes a public employee who goes the extra mile to clean up and

Abita Springs Mayor Dan Curtis avoids jail after Louisiana Supreme Court ruling

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

Basing its ruling on a technicality, the Louisiana Supreme Court said May 30 that Abita Springs Mayor Dan Curtis cannot be held in contempt of court and imprisoned for failing to comply with a controversial residential development agreement that has consumed the town for years.

The court found that because Curtis was not personally served with a notice of the contempt charge against him, the lower court’s judgment that found him in contempt of court was invalid. An email is not sufﬁcient for notice of a contempt charge, the court found.

start to the contempt proceedings.

Back in 2018, Abita Springs government and Lonesome Development LLC reached an agreement allowing the developer to build 390 single-family homes on 168 acres on the town’s outskirts.

But the following year, the town said Lonesome had breached the development agreement and could not proceed. In response, Lonesome sued. Both 22nd Judicial District Court Judge William Burris and the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal sided with Lonesome.

The matter did not end there, however

to comply with the development agreement.

“I have to look out for the good of the town of Abita,” Curtis said.

That’s how, over a year-and-ahalf later, the case fell into the hands of the Supreme Court, after both Burris and the appeal court once again sided with Lonesome and found Curtis in contempt of court and ordered his imprisonment.

“I’m ecstatic,” Curtis said last week. “I think they got it right ” Thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision, Curtis is not going to jail anytime soon in the case.

But the upshot of the opinion, which was issued by the whole court and did not touch on the merits of the case, could just be a re-

In November 2023, Lonesome said that despite the court decisions, the town was still not allowing it to proceed and accused it of failing to follow a court order The developer sought Curtis’ imprisonment.

The town, meanwhile, argued that if the development is hooked up to the town’s sewerage system it could cause an “environmental disaster.” Curtis says the town has done everything it legally can

The town appealed and the Supreme Court found that when Lonesome served its charge via an email to the lawyers for the town, it did not meet state requirements that a charge against a person being held in contempt must be served on them like a subpoena.

“It is an unfortunate delay in what has been a very long and drawn-out case,” said Howard Sinor, a lawyer for the developer, about the Supreme Court’s decision.

But Andrew Wilson, a lawyer for Abita Springs, praised the decision. “It’s valid, it’s a good one,” he said. Sinor said they will now person-

beautify the area; individuals who hold a public sector job.

n Rocksey’s Young Leadership Award will go to a student (grades K-12) or student group that exempliﬁes environmental stewardship.

n Collegiate Environmental Steward Award is presented to a college student or group of them who go the extra mile to make their campus clean and sustainable.

n Outstanding Community Affiliate Award will go to a certified Keep Louisiana Beautiful community affiliate that has made significant strides in the past year in making their community a cleaner, greener place to live.

n Outstanding University

ally serve the mayor through the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce with a rule to show cause for why he should not be held in con-

tempt. “It will be a replay of what we’ve already done, but this time it will be done with a different service,” he said.

We’reworking todayto energize your tomorrow.

Curtis STAFF FILE PHOTO BY ALEX LUBBEN

This sign was posted at the entrance of the Abita Meadows subdivision after Abita Springs Mayor Dan Curtis announced in July 2019, that he was imposing a halt on further development of the project. The developer, Lonesome Development, LLC, sued the town the next month. The sign has since been knocked down.

Fit as a Firefighter kids’ camp stresses fitness, fun

Another “Fit as a Firefighter” summer camp for local youth is in the books, and it was five days of fitness and education in kid-friendly settings that made learning a lot of fun for a lucky group of children aged 7 to 12. The fitness and nutrition day camp at the St. Tammany Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 Training Academy at Camp Villere was developed to encourage young participants to lead healthy, active lifestyles. The camp was co-hosted by the fire district and Slidell Memorial Hospital/Ochsner

Campers watch as the Ochsner One critical care helicopter comes in for a landing

PHOTOS BY GRANT THERKILDSEN

Youngsters warm up during an exercise portion of camp.

Oakley Beck applies a tourniquet on EMT Brooklynn Brouillette.

Paramedic Jaylen Hoyler shows Kayleigh Chagnard how to work the sirens in an ambulance.

Ian Coulon, Beaux Harvey and Stephanie Higginbotham listen as Ochsner One Nurse Paramedic Michelle Kline gives them a rundown of the life-saving helicopter used to transport

Caleb Lunday and Dawson Joffrion touch Rocky the alligator from Cajun Encounters during the recent Fit As a Firefighter Camp hosted by St Tammany Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 an d Slidell Memorial Hospital/Ochsner

Task force chooses mosquito abatement district for review

Group, called TRAC, is DOGE-like committee that seeks to find waste

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

Around a conference table at a government facility near Slidell that is dedicated to the control and study of mosquitoes, a tense conversation about ﬁnances was unfolding not unlike talks that have been taking place across St. Tammany in recent months.

Northshore District Attorney Collin Sims, who is serving as the fact-ﬁnder on “TRAC,” St. Tammany Parish’s newly formed DOGElike committee, was discussing his decision to look into the Mosquito Abatement District’s ﬁnances.

TRAC, as the Transparency and Resources Accountability Committee is better known in parish government circles, was formed amid concerns about funding for Sims’ office, as well as the courts and northshore judges. Its larger goal is cutting costs through tax restructuring as committee members aim to scrutinize the budgets for all government agencies in the parish. But for its first formal review, TRAC has chosen the generally apolitical St. Tammany Mosquito Abatement District, a mosquitofighting operation with a $9 million budget that is run by entomologists.

“I do appreciate the macro level look into parish government,” District Director Kevin Caillouet told Sims “But (you) can’t do that in a politically smearing kind of way from the start.”

Caillouet was in part responding to Sims publicly describing the district as a “ﬁefdom.”

“The term ﬁefdom comes about because at the end of the day you guys have taxpayer dollars coming to you without any parish council oversight,” Sims countered.

Sims pointed to his own office, which is a line item in the parish government budget, and contrasted it with the mosquito district. The district is overseen by a board of commissioners, appointed by the St. Tammany Parish Council and president, but who have the final say about the district’s dedicated tax. It was not the first tense moment between the parish’s prosecutors and its mosquito killers. In May the mosquito district’s board voted to retain outside counsel, against the wishes of Sims, whose office by law is supposed to represent them.

It likely won’t be the last tense moment either as Sims and the other TRAC members, including Councilmember Joe Impastato, assemble a report on the Mosquito Abatement District’s budget for the Parish Council.

In an interview after the meeting, Caillouet said he had no problem with a ﬁnancial review, but he added, “The fact that it’s the DA’s ofﬁce doing this it’s a threatening approach and it’s intimidating.”

”It’s an awkward role I play,” Sims acknowledged in a recent interview “I recognize that.” But he said he wants to make clear that his role here is fact-ﬁnder, not attorney or decision maker. “My role is that of providing resources that the council doesn’t have at their disposal.”

A nationally notable district

The discussion between Sims and Caillouet came after Sims and other parish ofﬁcials toured the mosquito district’s Slidell facility, a large, polished mosquito-ﬁghting compound with a state-of-the-art lab where staff identify and test mosquitoes for viruses and an arsenal of drones, trucks and boats, as well as a helicopter and airplane, to help them spray insecticide across a big parish.

The small army of over 50 part-time and full-time staff members includes nine “ﬁeld generals,” as Caillouet called them — biologists who are in charge of responding to mosquito problems in designated zones in the parish, where they set traps, test landing rates and respond to calls from residents.

The program is notable nationally, according to Herff Jones, the president of the American Mosquito Control Association and the director of Iberia Parish’s Mosquito Abatement District

That may in part be because St. Tammany, with its lack of centralized sewage infrastructure, as well as its varied ecosystem and sheer size — it is the fourth largest parish by area in the state — pose unique problems for mosquito control.

Over 36,000 homes in the parish have onsite wastewater septic systems more than any other parish in the state — and over half are failing or would fail an inspection, Caillouet said They release untreated sewage

Northshore District Attorney

PUBLIC MEETINGNOTICE

into ditches, turning them into breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus.

“That is the number one problem in St Tammany Parish,” said Impastato, who was on the tour Last year, he unsuccessfully pushed an ordinance that would require inspection of septic systems, and plans to bring another one in a few months

Amid conversations about how mosquito control costs could be cut, some have wondered whether the district could be privatized, pointing to nearby parishes like Jefferson, which contracts out mosquito abatement services. Caillouet counters that this would, in fact, be less cost effective.

He said Jefferson has a 2025 budget of $5.7 million and a land area that is a third of St. Tammany’s. If St. Tammany operated like Jefferson, Caillouet said, its budget would balloon to $15 million.

Chuck Palmisano, who was director of the district for 40 years between 1976 and 2016 and who said he was generally in favor of DOGE at a national level, said he worries privatization of mosquito control will introduce more politics while being less effective.

Separately, he recalled how in the 1980s, a mosquito abatement commissioner and some St. Tammany police jurors wanted to spend some of the mosquito district’s money on backhoes and equipment not clearly related to the district’s needs. It never happened after a state representative got a bill passed clarifying that the district was in control of its budget. But Palmisano said “there was a lot of tension.”

There is no set date for the TRAC report on the Mosquito Abatement District’s finances, Sims said, and Impastato said it could take months, as they learn more about the district and its costs.

Meanwhile, Caillouet said he plans to hold a tour of his facility for the public on June 21.

State Project No.H.015928 F.A.P. Project No.H015928

Public Workshop Meetings

The St. Tammany Parish Comprehensive Pedestrian &Bicycle Plan is rolling along! The plan is being undertaken to guide policies and recommendations for new pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the Parish. The project team has so far inventoried St. Tammany's non-motorized transportation network, identified networkgaps, and received public input on desired areas of improvement. Based upon that input, the project team has also completed a draft bicycle and pedestrian network map showing existing and proposed new bicycle and pedestrian improvements, as well as policy and program recommendations,including a draft Complete Streets Policy for the Parish. We are looking to share our work with you and receive your input and feedback on these draft items. We will be presenting these items for your review and comment during TWO (2) public workshop meetings in July:

Tuesday, July 15, 2025St. Tammany Parish Government AdministrativeComplex 21454 Koop Dr, Mandeville, LA 70471 5:30 -7:30 PM Thursday, July 17, 2025 –St. Tammany Parish AdministrativeComplex (Towers Building) 520 OldSpanish Trail, Slidell, LA 70458 5:30 -7:30 PM

The workshop meetings will be held in an “open house” format and will have aseries of stations of exhibits manned by staff and aPowerPoint presentation. Attendees can come to the workshop any time during the meeting time period and can stay for as long as they see fit. At these workshop meetings, participantswill have opportunities to engage in hands-on activities. The workshops will also featurevisualizations and imagery showcasing various types of bike and pedestrian facilities proposed in the draft network. Information packet hand-outs willbeavailable to the public at the meetings, which will include aproject background, commentforms and surveys. Comments and surveys may be submitted at the meeting, or may be mailed or emailed to the following addresses, postmarked within ten days of the 2nd meetingdate (byJuly 27, 2025):

Mr. Bruce Richards N-Y Associates, Inc.

ATTN: St. Tammany Parish Comprehensive Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan 2750 Lake Villa Drive Metairie, LA 70002 email: brichards@n-yassociates.com

If you require special assistance due to adisability in order to participate in this Public Meeting, please contact the consultant by mail at the address above or by telephone at (504) 885-0500, at least five working days prior to each meeting.

For more information relating to this Public Meeting, please call Mr. Bruce Richards of N-Y Associates, Inc. at (504) 885-0500.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY ALEX LUBBEN

Josh Foulon, field operations supervisor with the St. Tammany Mosquito Abatement District, looks toward the marsh in Fontainebleau State Park from an airboat on Lake Pontchartrain

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE

Josh Foulon and Haley Marquette, both with the St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement District, collect mosquitofish from a ditch in Slidell.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

Sydney Johnson, a field biologist with St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement, tosses larvicide granules that will help kill the possible Asian Tiger mosquito larvae growing in the rainwater collected in abandoned tires in Covington.

STAFF PFILE HOTO

Collin Sims, center left, looks on as Josh Foulon, a biologist with the St. Tammany Mosquito Abatement District, discusses some of the district’s vehicles during a recent tour of the facility

Summertime SPLASH

The school year closed and the Covington Municipal Pool in the Rev. Peter Atkins Park opened May 30, the siren call of summer for lots of water-lovers who showed up on opening day. The 701 N. Tyler St. park also includes a splash pad and other kid-friendly amenities, but the pool remains its summertime centerpiece. It is available at no cost to those who use it Tuesday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and lifeguards will be on duty during those open hours, according to the city of Covington.

Kylar Sylve does the triedand-true hold the nose and jump move

Young northshore entrepreneur wins national attention

BY MARGARET ALBERT

Contributing writer

What if your child could take part in a program designed to transform seventh through 12th grade students into knowledgeable, confident entrepreneurs?

That’s exactly what the Young Entrepreneurs Academy Northshore can do, and one of its recent participants, Libny Hernandez, just placed second in the academy’s national competition. The 2025 graduate of Hammond High School received the award for her proposed business model Fresh Dump, a commercial dumpster cleaning service

primarily for restaurants, grocery stores and food service operations. Her national win is a ﬁrst in the 10-year history of the northshore chapter, which

draws students in St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes.

“It was a wonderful experience from the very first day,” Hernandez said. “During the course, we heard from guest speakers and learned how to create and present a business idea to investors. At the end of the course, we did just that.” Hernandez has her sights set on trade school in the fall to study electrical engineering. When asked if she intends to pursue her plan for Fresh Dump, she replied, “Oh, absolutely In my business proposal for the contest, I targeted $1,700 for startup expenses. I was awarded $3,000 instead. This will give

me a sure foundation.”

Rick Danielson, director and chief mentor of the northshore program, is excited about the work he does with these young people. “This is something that gives students opportunities on multiple levels not available in academics,” he said. “They learn the potential of stepping out of their comfort zone and developing a business idea guided by a mentor We give them the tools to fuel their conﬁdence.”

With the possibility of a college education an uncertainty for many, an opportunity such as YEA can set a student on a path toward

success before graduating from high school, he said.

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy Northshore chapter is one of over 150 national chapters in partnership with YEA National. Partnerships with large, significant organizations including Southwest Airlines, the Kaufman Foundation the Saunders Foundation, Sam’s Club, the United States Chamber of Commerce and many others are instrumental in making the national program possible

The 23-week program is available annually to young people from the northshore, guiding them through the generation of business ideas, market research, development of business plans, presentations to investors, and launching their own company Participants are paired with their own personal business mentor during these out-of-classroom experiences. The next session of Young Entrepreneurs Academy Northshore starts this September, with the new school year, and runs through April of next year. Danielson said recruitment for the class of 2025 is underway and is limited to 25 participants. The application period is open until Sept. 1 and is available through yeanorthshore.org.

FROM THE FILES OF THE FARMER

25 years ago

The St. Tammany Parish School Board will likely approve changes to the 2000-2001 handbook at its regular monthly meeting tonight. A discipline committee has recommended that students in grades 9-12 wear identification badges at school. Failure to do so, if the change is adopted, could result in the student being suspended or suffer a lesser penalty such as disciplinary reassignment or a conference with parents and teachers. School ofﬁcials say ID badges will help teachers determine who is supposed to be on school campuses Some schools have as many as 1,700 students enrolled. Exceptions to this rule would be high schools that have adopted mandatory uniforms.

50 years ago

A massive manhunt for a downed parachutist west of Covington ended at 11:30 p.m. Friday, four hours after she jumped from an airplane at the Greene County Parachute Center Mrs. Faye Dixon was found safe and unhurt in a tree located in a wooded section just east of the airport, the Sheriff’s Department reported A number of local people and sheriff’s deputies took part in the search when she was reported missing

75 years ago

The membership drive of the LacombeYouth Center got underway last Saturday with a program dedicated to the achievement of the center’s goal, that of a building to house all the entertainment and educational features which the youth of that community may require Group and community singing, motion pictures, and short, interesting talks are features of the program.

Chris Nielsen, vice president of the center, stressed the purpose of the organization — a legally constituted, nonproﬁt group, with elected ofﬁcers, which, with the continued help and cooperation of the community and friends will go forward in attaining the goal.

“The continued development and growth of the center will depend upon the active support, as well as other means of support, from our good friends in this and other communities. Your membership is your voting stock in the organization devoted to serving the youth of Lacombe,” said Mr Nielsen.

Individual yearly membership in the center is $3, and for couples, cost is $5.

100 years ago

While long delayed,the action of the Highway Commission in taking the initial steps toward building the Chef and Rigolets free bridges will be welcomed by the public.

Engineers of the very highest standing have stated that these bridges can be built well within the means legally available for this purpose and the certainty that these bridges will be built is only limited by the good faith in which the survey may be made. That is, a survey in anticipation of the construction of bridges at the least cost at which they can be built and still be serviceable and meet the requirements for which they are intended. No waste in superﬂuous additions; no stint in necessary requirements; no deep water that can be avoided.

The importance to Louisiana of good highways can hardly be overestimated. At the present rate of development in the South, New Orleans will soon double in population. As a great port with its opportunities for industrial development, the great ﬂow of trafﬁc to it must not be blocked by closed highways, nor can its people afford to be shut in and deprived of highways for which they have taxed themselves.

125 years ago

Last Sunday,the newAbita Springs Hotel opened to the public. It will be remembered that the hotel was burned to the ground last January.

Widow O. Aubert and her enterprising sons, have, by the expenditure of considerable energy and some money rebuilt their hotel, and it gives promise of being popular

immediately It is located on a hill on the south side of the town. It is substantially built of wood, with two wings, two stories high, and at present has accommodations for 100 guests. It is equipped with all modern conveniences gas, electric bells etc., and with a system of natural sulphur baths. The rooms are all nicely furnished and matted, the beds being of the neat brass pattern.

The cuisine, however is the best part of the hotel. There is a French chef, whose creations are able to delight the most fastidious epicure. In honor of the opening of the new hotel, a dinner was served to a few invited guests. It was a delightful affair, and the menu was one calculated to please the most exacting palette. We wish the enterprising proprietors a long and prosperous career

Libny Hernandez

Melissa Jones and her nephew, Bryson Jones, have some water fun.

Caitlin Jones watches son Bryson swim.

Lilah Bass and her son, Bentley Jones, take a cool dip on opening day.

PHOTOS BY GRANT THERKILDSEN

Chris Tyson and King Brown take a dual plunge into the Covington Municipal Pool at its May 30 opening in the Rev Peter Atkins Park.

Slidell High School graduated its Class of 2025 during commencement exercises held May 5 at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond Students ranked among the Top 10 in their class are:

n Lena Elizabeth Ammons, who ranked first in the Class of 2025. She is the daughter of Christine Solice and Trase Ammons. She plans to attend Southeastern Louisiana University where she will major in finance. Lena has been involved in the National Honor Society where she served as president and Mu Alpha Theta as vice president. As a four-year member of Thespian Troupe No 775, she also served as president for 2024-25. She was the recipient of the Theatre Department Award and the Principal’s Leadership Award. Lena was a member of Tiger Teammates, Slidell High School Lighthouse committee, and an editor for the yearbook n Lauralynn Erzsebet Book also ranked first in her class. She is the daughter of Jeffrey and Marjorie Book. She will attend Tulane University and major in psychology. Lauralynn has been a member of the Slidell High School choir, Tiger Teammates, Beta Club National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. As a member of the yearbook staff, she was the recipient of the Print Journalism Award. She earned a community service endorsement for over 80 hours of community service. An LHSAA Academic All-State Award winner, Lauralynn was a member of the track and field team for four years. She won the District 7-5A championship in the discus and was runner-up in the shot put.

n Jayden Cole Dietrich, who ranked ﬁrst in the Slidell’s Class of 2025, is the son of Lacie and Tyelor Dietrich. In the fall, he will attend LSU and major in mechanical engineering. Jayden was Student Council president for four years and served as Class Ambassador. He was a member of the Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta and National Honor Society. His four years in the Slidell High School Band culminated with his senior year as Drum Major. As a varsity athlete in cross-country, track and ﬁeld, and powerlifting, he received the LHSAA Academic All-State Award and is the pole vault champion for the City of Slidell. Jayden was also a member of the 30+ ACT Club.

n Camden Jacob Pichon is the son of Kalon and Suzanne Pichon and he also ranked ﬁrst in class. He plans to attend Louisiana State University where he will major in ﬁnance. As a member of the Slidell High School band, he served as low brass captain his senior year. Camden was in District IX Honor Band for four years, SELU Invitational Honor Band and All-State Symphonic Band for two years. He was a member of the Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta and National Honor Society. An LHSAA Academic All-State Award winner, he was on the tennis team for four years and was captain his senior year. He earned a community service endorsement for over 100 hours of community service. He was the recipient of the Academic Excellence Award, Carrie On scholarship, Donna Manetta scholarship and the Barbara Wilcox Mathematics Excellence Scholarship. Camden was also a member of the 30+ ACT Club.

Ann

Elise

Elizabeth

Rachel

Gerardo Carrasco-Cruz, Abbey Rose Caruso, Kiley Nicole Casebolt, Anthony Joseph Cervolo, James Ernest Chaney Jr., Anthony Brysin Chetta, Cole Joseph Anthony Chimento-Nunez, Nico Giovanni Ciruti, Javien Johnson Clark, Sarah Shelby Clark, Abigayle Grace Clayton, Preston James David Clayton, Morgan Alicia Clements, Joshua Andrew Coco, Topher Presely Coggin, Landon Micah Cole, Kayla Renee’ Collins, Armando Cocoa Colunga, Raishane Terell

n Camden Alijah Malley ranked eighth in Slidell High’s Class of 2025. He is the son of Dexter and Alicia Malley. He plans to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and major in astrophysics. He was a member of Beta Club and Mu Alpha Theta. As a four-year member of crosscountry and track and ﬁeld teams, he was the District 7-5A champion in pole vault and an LHSAA Academic AllState Award winner. He was a member of the 30+ ACT Club and received the Social Studies Department Award n Madison Alexandria Wills also ranked eighth in her class. She is the daughter of Michael and Rachel Wills. In the fall, she will attend Nicholls State University to major in nursing. She was a member of Beta Club and Mu Alpha Theta. She has been a member of HOSA-Future Health Professionals for four years and served as Secretary during her senior year. During her four years in the

n Isabella Marie Powell ranked first in the Slidell High Class of 2025. She is the daughter of Jamie and Dayne Powell. She plans to attend Southeastern Louisiana University in the fall where she will major in biology. Isabella has been active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for four years. She has also been a member of National Honor Society, Beta Club and Mu Alpha Theta. She earned a community service endorsement for over 80 hours of community service and received the Art Department Award As a four-year letterman on the Slidell High softball team, Isabella received two Coach’s Awards and was recognized as an LHSAA Academic AllState Award winner n William Carmody Pugh ranked first in the class of 2025. He is the son of Scott and Ann Pugh. He will attend Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, and he plans to major in premedicine. An Eagle Scout, William also was a member of National Honor Society, Beta Club and Mu Alpha Theta. He was a four-year member of the cross-country and track and field teams, ran a leg of the district and parish champion 3,200-meter relays and was an LHSAA Academic All-State Award winner. He was a member of the 30+ ACT Club and received the Science Department Award n Elena Raquel Stewart also ranked first in the class of 2025. She is the daughter of Malcolm and Lisa Stewart In the fall, Elena will attend Tulane University where she plans to major in ecology and evolutionary biology. Elena is a member of National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. She was a member of HOSAFuture Health Professionals for four years and served as president during her senior year. She was a member of the 30+ ACT Club and received the Math Department Award.

Slidell High School Band, she was ﬂute captain and ultimately Drum Major in her senior year.

n Chloe Jane Canulette ranked 10th in the Slidell High Class of 2025. She is the daughter of Andrew and Charlene Canulette. She plans to attend Tulane University and major in Legal Studies and Music Technology. She was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society and also Beta Club, of which she was president for her senior year. Chloe was a member of the Slidell High School swim team for two years and qualiﬁed for the LHSAA state swim meet each year. Chloe was editor of the school yearbook and a member of the Tiger News Network. She was a member of the 30+ ACT club and received the Talented Music Department Award n Parker Louis Seibel also ranked 10th in the Class of 2025. He is the grandson of Charles and Terri Malter. He plans to attend Louisiana State University and major in Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of National Honor Society, Beta Club and Mu Alpha Theta where he served as secretary for his senior year. As a member of the Slidell High School band, he served as low brass captain his senior year. Parker was the recipient of the Band Director’s Award. He was in District IX Honor Band for two years and was a member of the All-State Symphonic band. He was a member of the 30+ ACT club and earned a community service endorsement for over 80 hours of community service.

A full list of the Best in Class graduates, including the previously named Top 10, are Easton Michel Abney Joshua Daniel Alongi, Caidyn Joelle Amison, Lena Elizabeth Ammons, Hayley Grace Bauer, Julia Emilee Grace Bay, Lauralynn Erzsebet Book, Taylor Mae Bordelon, Cayden Romulo Braudt, Chloe Jane Canulette, Abbey Rose Caruso, Abigayle Grace Clayton, Raegan Leighann Cox, Jayden Cole Dietrich, Mallory Anne Doll, Logan Shelby Echols, Kamryn Beulah-Reigh Edwards, Mia Sue Ibrahim Elghorayeby, Madison Leigh Embree, Martin

Holgerson, Cameron Christopher Lackey, Che’rie Angelle Ledezma, Brody James Lupo, Bailey Lynette Mackles, Camden Alijah Malley, Haley Jade Marks, Alyssa Ashanti McCoy, Landon Michael McGrath, Elianah AddieElizabeth Mendez, Camden Jacob Pichon, Isabella Marie Powell, Emily Elizabeth Prosperie, William Carmody Pugh, Hannah Elizabeth Rimmer, Gabrielle Nicole Robertson, Reagan Marie Robinson, Parker Louis Seibel, Ava Corinne Singletary, Elena Raquel Stewart, Thomas John Sullivan, Aiden Wilson Sweetland, Tatum Makenzie Symons, Saige Emily Vedrenne, Evin Janeen Weston, Emma Claire Whittington, Ronald Joseph Williams and Madison Alexandria Wills. The full list of Slidell High’s Class of 2025 includes: Easton

James Emerson, Kylie

Fallas, Shayne

Flick, Hollie Elizabeth Flower, Gawaine Aeddon Grigg, Kylee

Hebert, Caelyn Marie Hirstius,

Nevaeh-Leigh

Parker Siebel Chloe Canulette

Madison Wills Camden Malley Elena Stewart

William Pugh

Isabella Powell Camden Pichon

Jayden Dietrich

Lauralynn Book Lena Ammons

Golfer leaves U.S. Women’s Open with boost of confidence

BY DARREN COOPER Contributing writer

Abbey Daniel left the U.S. Women’s Open early, but with a highlight and a conﬁdence boost.

“My biggest lesson was that my game is good enough to be there. I didn’t have my best stuff this week, but there’s no doubt in my mind that I deserved to be there,” said Daniel.

The 24-year old Covington native, who starred at Hannan High and Mississippi State, missed the cut after shooting rounds of 78 and 77 on the Erin Hills course in Wisconsin.

She started the opening round on May 29 with a par but then missed a 13-foot par putt on the second hole and had to settle for a bogey On the third hole, she was putting for a birdie from just off the green, but the blade let her down and she took a double bogey On the fourth hole, she fought out from the tree line after an off-center drive to take another bogey Daniel found herself at +4 through four holes.

But then came some magic and a shot that was featured on the U.S.Women’s Open website On the par-3 195yard sixth hole, Daniel hit an iron into a greenside bun-

bounce and rolled perfectly into the cup for a spectacular par She smiled as she walked toward the ball and acknowledged the cheers.

“I got off to a really rough start Thursday and was just trying to grind through it, so it was just relief when I saw the ball go in,” said Daniel. “Golf is hard enough, so you have to take the good shots when they show up, even if they’re in unexpected ways.”

After being in one of the final groups to tee off in the opening round, she was one of the first to play in the second round. Starting on the back 9, she bogeyed three of the first four holes, but then played her best golf of the event, with three birdies on the front nine including one on the sixth. Swedish star Maja Clark won the event at -7. Daniel will have a string of three tournaments in Michigan this month on the Epson Tour (one notch below the LPGA). She missed the cut in the FireKeepers Championship last week and was due to compete in the Great Lakes Championship and the Island Resort Championship later in June.

“I’m

Drezins, Sarah Kate Dubuisson, Sophie Grace Galatas, Ethan Sidney Hanrahan, Allison Elizabeth Jones, Jenna Marie Landry, Connor Joseph Powell, Alexis Cierra Saint Romain, Ella Catherine Steele and Gianni Monet Will. The complete list of students earning

Marielle Antoine, Lacey Lynn Bachemin, Lauren Ashlee Barber, Alphonse, Barcia IV Kaden Lucien Barrios, Bailee Lynn Barrow, Reginald Reynell Bates Jr.., Joshua Aaron Baudoin, Emma Marie Rose Benefield, Owen Michael Benefield, Seth Henry Bents, David Fitzgerald Bigsby Jr.. Kylie Rose Billiot, Zachary Tyler Blanco, Skyla Michelle Blue, Taylor Mackenzi Booker, Avery Madison Borchers Noah Gabriel Bouche‘, Kaitlyn Paige Bourgault, Tyree Miguel Bridges, Amelia Claire Britt, Wyatt Matthew Brooks, Ashlyn Marie Broussard, Landon Trey Brown, Wesley Rashawn Brown and Elias Rogerio Brunet. Also, Amaya Cache‘ Bryant, David Bui, Kayleigh Brynn Burch, Peyton Thomas Burckel, Glenn Anthony Butler Jr.., Lillian Fields Cameron, Joshua Michael Camp Andruw Daniels Cancel Rivera, David Jacques Cantrelle, Larry John Carrere III, Robert Francis Carroll III, Payton Osborn Cathcart, Ronald James Celius, Ariana Marie Ceplina, Abryannah Baize Chachere, Jacob Michael Chadwick, Auriana Ymani Chambers, Gavin Reed Chappetta, Kamaya Marie Charles, Ayden Nehemiah Bernard Clay, Sophia Rae Condon, Arturo, Contreras-Pena Syleste Wynne Cooks, Mckenzie Marie Cooley-Themm, Caitlyn, Corona, Delaney Samantha Cousin, Gabriel Allen Couvillion, Raquel Imelda Cowart, Caroline Ella Cramer, Callie Elizabeth Crowe, Shane Michael Crowe, Marcus Anthony Cuillier, Zoey Alyssa Culberson, Camarah Kay Daigrepont, Brennan Anthony Darte, Asia Lynn Davis, Austin Steele Davis, Lhundon Theresa Davis, Remy Douglas Davis, Jabari King Dawson, Christian Jovan Dean, Olesia Sianna DeJean, Carter Joseph Diecidue, Anna Marie Doll, Talia Cailey Douglas, Marissa Kay Dreyfus, Kendal Adi Drezins, Sarah Kate Dubuisson, Kirian Fabiola Duenas-Perez, Collin Michael Dugas, Brody McCoy Dukes and Garrett Ryan Durr. Also, Nalah Grace Eastin, John Reid Ellinwood, Alysa Leigh-Ann English, Christian Gabriel-Leialoha Esparza Erica Remelle Evans, Declan Adam Evett, Kevin Michael Falterman, Richard Cole Fayard, Samuel Sadid Feliciano, Maia Marie Fobbs, Cohen Riley Fogg, Emile Joseph Foster II I, Jacob Jerrell Fournett, Ethan Dale Freeman, Calista Mae Fritz, Landon Joseph Frost, Sophie Grace Galatas, Hudson Cole Galloway, Lake Gavin Garrity, Carly Ellen Gates, Cesar Emmanuel Gervacci Lopez, Drake Louis Gibson, Christopher Michael Godwin, Isabella Prado Goncalves, Ava Brooke Gordon, Ashtynn Marie Gremillion, Brandon King Augustus Griffin Jr.. Mackenzie Elizabeth Grose, Jaiden Katherine Gross, Mia Annabelle Gumpert, Skyler Mark Haab, Scott Michael Hall, Alby Hamilton-Marino, Tatum Nicole Hammell, Mariah Michelle Hammond, Sarah Han, Ethan Sidney Hanrahan, Logan Thomas Hansen, Maecie Elizabeth Hardaker, Kegan Hatch, Shawn Myron Hayes Jr., William Roy Heffker, Jason Conner Helfer, Kaden Keon Henry Luke Matthew Henry Beau Anthony Herdliska, Michael Luis Hernandez, Charles Joseph Hidalgo, Sabrina Danielle Hill, Samuel Aaron Hirsh, Morgan Victoria Hodge, Joseph Carl Hofstetter V, Olivia Jade Hofstet-

Samuel Johnston, Aidan Gregory Jones, Allison Elizabeth Jones, Kerliyah Nevaeh Joseph, Sophia Michelle Jukes, Reyadh Abdulgalil Kassim, Madison Erin Keller, Terry Ann Kelly, Bryce Joseph Kennedy Jaden Hunter Kenyon, Ashley Marie Killian, Carmen Alexis King, Skye‘

Zachary Leleaux, Gabriel Scott Leto, Anna Marie Levette, Emme Grace Levy, Emma Grace Lingo, Kiley Marie Lizana, Chloe Sophia Loe, Elijah Thomas Long, Caitlyn Lula Lowe Andrew Michael Macione, Rogie, Magee III, Caleb Joseph Mahnke, Emily Elizabeth Maine, Rylee Renee‘ Majoue‘, Carson Charles Malasovich, Salvatore Anthony Marchese IV, Ana Maria Marshall, Catherine Dawn Masker, Peyton Heath McCain, April Marie McCoy, Jeremiah Roland McGrew, William Gabriel McInnis, Juliana Maria McRevyCraine, Jake Kenneth McReynolds, Arturo Jaaziel Medina Flores, Carlos Samuel Mendoza Sanchez, Mallory Lynn Menesses, Evan Maxwell Mentel, Cameron Andrew Molinary, Mykah Rose Montgomery, Diego, Morales, Terrell Isaiah Morris and Brogan Miles Mulkey Also, Celena Thao Anh Nguyen Isaac Kham Nguyen, Maya Odirin Okoro, Abigail Folasade Oladele Catherine Elizabeth Owen, Jose Manuel Padilla Lopez, Hunter Christopher Parrett, Carlos Montes Parrilla III, Rebekah Elizabeth Pastoret, Henna Hamant Patel, Skyler Marie Paul, Bucky Minh Phillips Jr., Eva Marie Polini, Connor Joseph Powell, Laney Elizabeth Randazzo, Emerson Alexis Ray, Kendall Elizabeth Remerow, Camryn Elizabeth Rhodus, Aubrey Ella Richards, Moses Daniel Roark, Shannon Leehaskell Roberts, Eral Mekhi Robinson, Elvis Adony Robles Barahona, Andrew Joseph Rodriguez, Arianna Madison Rodriguez, Madison Katheryn Rodriguez, Joan Darey Rodriguez Macias, Aubrey Taylor Rohwer, E‘Niyah Amor Rosado, Joshua Braylon Royal, Jamie Paola Ruano, Connor Matthew Rucker, Conlan Anthony Ruiz, Elle Marie Russell, Alexis Cierra Saint Romain, Talia Zain Salem, Kiley Elizabeth Salisbury, Mya Marie Saucier, Mia Olivia Saunders, Matthew Donovan Scott, Talia Quin Scully, Mitchell Patterson Sevin, Taylor Michelle Sievers, Carter Lemoine Silbernagel, Kaycee Lynn Silbernagel, Adriane Makayla Simien, Wyett Thomas Sistrunk, Talia Jan‘E Small, Alexia Ann Marie Smith, Caden Reed Smith, Daniel Connor Smith, Tyreè Donielle Smith, Luis William Socarras Jr., Maycol Sebastian Sosa-Cisterna, Cherie Gabrielle Spencer, Ella Catherine Steele, Joivanni Louis Stevenson Haley Nevaeh Stewart, Keeley Mai Stewart, Ayden Chancellor Strecker and Lulu Anna Szumski. Also, Blaise Nathan Taylor, Terrianna Lynette Taylor, Christopher Wayne Thomas, Justin Joseph Thompson, Jameka Vaugcheri Tillison, Lauren Elizabeth Tohme, Andrea Thuy Tien Tran, Ayden Khai Duc Tran, Maximus Dinh Tran, Ethan Thomas Travirca, Adonis Bennette Turner III, Marcos, Turner, Rocky Marcello Valencia, Ethan Lane Vallee, Shelbi Donielle Varnado, Andrew Louis Verges, Aasiah Me‘Chell Victor, Mayson Mathew Villneurve, Sophia My-Duyen Vu, Brennan Charles Wallace, Coleman Michael Wallace III, Makayla Joy Wasser, Beaux Douglas Weatherford, Charley Mckenna Weaver, Donovan Drew Weilbaecher, Maddison Nevaeh Weis, Destiny Rose Welch, Emma Alyce Welch, Joshua Theodore Wellwood, Aaron John Whittington, Logan Anthony Wigginton, Grant Matthew Wilkinson Gianni Monet Will,

Celebrating 75 years at St. Tammany Library

BY JACKIE RIECKE Contributing writer

On June 2, 1950, residents welcomed the ofﬁcial start of the local public library with the St. Tammany Parish Library Demonstration, thanks to the Covington Business & Professional Women’s Club that got things rolling in 1946 by making a library their annual project.

As a result, in the fall of 1950, a State Library representative and the chair of the women’s group presented the project to the St. Tammany Parish Police Jury

St. Tammany Parish was the 32nd Demonstration Library established in the state, and each was funded for one year Afterwards, it became the responsibility of the community to provide funding through a property tax millage, and local voters did their part on March 21, 1951, by approving a 10-year library millage.

The library system began with eight branches, two in Covington and one each in Slidell, Mandeville, Pearl River, Folsom, Madisonville and Abita Springs. A bookmobile also served areas not located close to aphysical branch.

Some things have changed over the past three quarters of a century, such as enhancements in services, technology offerings, and new and renovated branches. In 1950, for example, a patron was only able to check out books and possibly recordings of ﬁlm. Today with 12 branches and dozens of online services, patrons can still check out books but can also get audiobooks, music, ebooks, movies, stream content and take online courses.

To celebrate this milestone, all branches in the month of June are holding birthday party celebrations for patrons with games, crafts and treats during these family drop-in events. All birthday parties and other library events can be found on the library’s website, sttammanylibrary.org/ events.

This past March, voters again voted to continue funding library services an additional 15 years. A reminder that all St. Tammany Parish Library ofﬁces and branches will be closed on June 19, in observance of Juneteenth, and reopen for normal hours the following day

Events

HAPPY, HAPPY: The Lacombe

and Pearl River branches will host their 75th birthday parties on June 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with crafting activities, games and snacks. No registration needed.

ARTSY: Kids and families are invited to drop in at the Lee Road Branch on June 11 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for artsy adventures and nature-inspired creativity

No registration needed. MOVIE MONDAY: Adult patrons can enjoy a showing of the documentary “Secret Origin” on June 16 at the South Slidell branch from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This ﬁlm explores 75 years of DC Comics, the memorable characters of its universe, and the talented artists and writers who brought them to life. Register at loom.ly/

aKkRBkI. FRIENDS: The Friends of the Slidell Library will hold an SSSSale on June 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Slidell Library, 555 Robert Blvd. Sale items will include over 100 pre-owned books in excellent condition for children of all ages and teens Sale prices will range from $1 to $3 per book; cash and checks accepted.

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Emme

Camryn Rhodus

Matthew Scott

PROVIDED PHOTO

Covington native Abbey Daniel, shown here in a 2023 photo, didn’t make the cut in 2025 U.S. Women’s Open play during the first week of June, but the young golfer said her shooting at Erin Hills did give her confidence that she’s got the right stuff to play in the big league.

Donovan Weilbacher

Rocky Valencia

MUSIC

PLEASURE: The Bad Penny Pleasuremakers, or their shortened version, the Bad Pennies Quartet, or even the duo of guitarist and singer Matt Bell and percussionist Joy Patterson will bring their Louisiana-drenched music that is made for dancing to the next Sunset at the Landing on June 20. Come out for this Free Friday series concert from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Columbia Street Landing in Covington. Bring chairs and blankets for comfy seating and refreshments to enjoy while passing a good time with the unique Pleasuremakers. You might even hear a Jimmy Rodgers tune or two.

UP CLOSE: Singer-songwriter Ellisa Sun brings her powerful voice and romantic moods to an evening of music in the intimate Listening Room at the Harbor Center on June 20 near Slidell at 100 Harbor Center Blvd. Sun says she never performs in white because she cuts her heart out and leaves it on stage. Show begins at 7 p.m. advance $22 tickets, plus fees, at Eventbrite; none sold at the door; four-top tables also available in the bohemianstyle, smoke-free, 124-seat venue IRISH: Two of Ireland’s best-known musicians, John Doyle and Michael McGoldrick, to perform in Abita Springs Town Hall on June 12, taking a musical trip through Irish folk music with both haunting ballads and high-energy reels. Doyle’s percussive guitar rhythms and soulful vocals blend with McGoldrick’s ﬂute, whistle, and uilleann pipe melodies. Get ticket info for the 7 p.m. show at NSTMS.org. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with lots of free parking at 22161 Level St. Both musicians will teach a workshop before the concert at 4 p.m. for melody players and accompanists. TWO SHOWS: The North Star Theatre at 347 Girod St. in Mandeville presents The Rocketmen in concert at 7 p.m. June 27. Doors open at 5:45 p.m.; show starts at 7 p.m. General admission tickets $25;

tickets are $65 and includes hors d’oeuvers, drinks and a meet and greet in the VIP lounge. On June 28, The Walrus performs; same time. Tickets for this one are $30 and VIP seats, with all the extras, are $80 For more info, see northstartheatre org or call (985) 200-4300.

JAZZ & BLUEGRASS: The Northshore Traditional Music Society provides several free music sessions monthly in St. Tammany Parish. See nstms.org for details, songlists and to conﬁrm meeting times. The next scheduled sessions include: n June 19: There’s a Traditional Irish Session every third Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Abita Brew Pub. Gather in the back room of the pub at 72011 Holly St. to play and sing favorite pieces of Celtic music. Be sure to visit the Session Celtic Music resource page at the-

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS

session.org/tunes.

n June 26: Open Mic Night on the ﬁnal Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the St. John’s Coffeeshop welcomes musicians of all ages and abilities to perform before a supportive audience. Each performer or ensemble is invited to share a set of three songs; only eight sets can be accommodated per session, so attendees are advised to arrive early to get a slot

HYMNS: The Young at Heart group at First Baptist Church near Covington will hold its Old Fashioned Hymn Sing with the FBC Music Family at 10:30 a.m. June 17 in the church chapel. Lunch at noon. Cost is $15 at the door, cash or check. Advance registration required no later than noon on June 12 at fbccov.org/adults-55.

THEATER ON STAGE: “Lucky Stiff” at 30 by Ninety Theatre in Mandeville is a musical comedy based on the novel “The Man Who Broke the Bank …” by Michael Butterworth. It’s an offbeat murder mystery full of farce, mistaken identities, $6 million in diamonds and one overriding question: Can Harry Witherspoon pass off the embalmed body of his uncle as a living, breathing relative during a Monte Carlo vacation? If he can, Harry stands to inherit a fortune. Directed by Jason Leader; assisted by Cat Forester; musical director, Frank Gonzalez. Jack Latner, as Harry, heads a cast of 12. See it weekends June 14-29. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Tick-

ets $25 to $32 online at 30byninety com.

ART

BRIDGING: The “Be-Causeway: Bridging North- and South-Shore Arts” exhibition in the Atrium Gallery on the Christwood campus near Covington featuring up and coming artists from New Orleans to New York, all represented by the Ferrara Showman Gallery in New Orleans. The show is a collaboration between Ferrara and the Atrium Art Alliance to expand artistic engagement and visibility The public is invited to see the diverse show from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, through June 27, at 100 Christwood Blvd. Free admission.

ORIGINAL: The “Fragments of Imagination” exhibition of original art in the George Dunbar Gallery in Slidell begins with an opening reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 20 that will include participating artists and the show juror, well-known New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne. Public invited to attend the opening or see the show through July 25 in the Slidell Cultural Center gallery at City Hall, 2055 Second St, where exhibition hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

PEOPLE WHO MEET

FEDERALS: Slidell Chapter 1396 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association next meets at 1 p.m. June 13 in First Christian Church, 102 Christian Lane. The speaker will be Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert with an update on what’s going on in the city. The Lunch Bunch will ﬁrst meet and eat at T-LeBlanc’s Restaurant, 797 Robert Blvd. All active and retired federal employees and spouses are welcome. For more info, contact Elroy Noel at (985) 290-0757 or email elroynoel@bellsouth.net.

CIRCLES: The Abita Springs Songwriters’ Circle to meet June 19 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Abita Springs Opry/Town Hall, 22161 Level St., for creative collaboration, sharing and encouragement. A performerfriendly gathering for all styles of songwriters, musicians, singers, and poets in the region. No charge or sign-up, but participants must bring their own acoustic instruments (keyboard, equipment and cords.); the Mandeville Writers Circle is set to meet from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 11 at Northstar Theatre, 347 Girod St; Slidell Writers Circle to meet from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 24 in Slidell Cultural Center, 2055 2nd St. Check each circle’s Facebook page to get details and conﬁrmation.

COMMUNITY GUMBO

LARRY: The Mystic Krewe of Brew throws another Larry Brew Fest

& Homebrew Competition at the Castine Center near Mandeville to beneﬁt the Northshore Humane Society from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 21. Sample from among more than 200 commercial and home-brew samples, plenty of food, live music and shopping with local vendors. Honored guests will be the furry friends who attend with their owners and all the adoptable pets from Northshore Humane who come looking for love and forever homes. Go to larrybrewfest.com for details, sponsor and ticket information.

FESTING: The Rotary Clubs of Slidell and Slidell Northshore, in partnership with the city of Slidell, have scheduled the 27th annual Slidell Heritage Festival on June 28 in Heritage Park at 1701 Bayou Lane. Gates open at 5 p.m. on an evening of live music from local artists, diverse food vendors, arts and crafts displays and a dedicated children’s zone with activities and games to keep them happy. The night will culminate with ﬁreworks at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 for aged 13 and above; younger ones are free. All proceeds to local charities. For more, including tickets, . For more visit the festival website at www slidellheritagefest.org.

SEAFOOD: The 18th annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-off takes place June 27 at the Harbor Center near Slidell, the statewide event’s ﬁrst in St. Tammany Parish. The winner will be declared cooking royalty and represent the state in future activities. The cook-off will also help kick off the 8th annual Tammany Taste of summer in restaurants parishwide from Aug. 1-31. As part of that, the state cook-off will also include samplings from Tammany Taste participating restaurants. Get all the details at the Louisiana Seafood Cook-off Facebook page and the Tammanytaste. com website..

QUILTERS: Anyone interested in learning to quilt, or experienced quilters looking for a group, are invited to The Camellia Quilters Guild of Slidell, which meets at 10 a.m. the third Thursday of every month in Genesis Hall, Aldersgate United Methodist Church. This group, meeting June 19, provides information, education and inspiration in all things quilting and related ﬁber arts. For more information, contact guild coordinator Mollie Lusty at mlusty63@gmail.com.

SUPPORT: St. Tammany Health System’s Palliative Medicine program will present an Alzheimer’s Support Group and Advance Care Planning event at Avanti Senior Living Center, 2235 Watercross Parkway, at 4:30 p.m. June 19. For more information or to set up an appointment to complete an Advance Care Plan, contact the healthy system’s Palliative Medicine team at (985) 871-5975.

Low-cost camp for kids at Christ Episcopal Church

Staff report

A low-cost academic and arts day campforkidsenteringthirdthrough sixth grade, an outreach ministry of Christ Episcopal Church, will be offered July 7-18 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the church campus in downtown Covington. This is the 25th anniversary of the Community Educational Enrichment Program, and to celebrate, the camp theme this year is “CEEP Super Bowl 25: Team Up and Win!” Before-care will also be offered from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the 120 S. New Hampshire St. church near Bogue Falaya Park. Breakfast and lunch are provided daily, and transportation is available to children living within the Covington city limits. Registration for CEEP 2025 is on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Saturday, June 28 from noon to 2 p.m., at the church administration office across the street from the church.

CEEP features academic classes aimed at reducing summer learning losses and will be taught by certiﬁed teachers with enriching hands-on experiences in the visual, dance and music arts. There will also be weekly recreational opportunities and field trips. Emphasis is placed on character development and building conﬂict resolution skills. Fees for the three-week day camp are $40 ($60 per family) for children eligible for free school lunches; $80 ($100 per family) for those eligible for reduced-price lunches; and $200 ($300 per family) for those on the noneligible waitlist.

There is a registration fee based on family income. If space and funds are available, scholarships may be available.

Documents needed to register include proof of income (free/reduced lunch veriﬁcation, check stub or income tax return); report card; and, if applicable, IEP (Individual Education Plan) and custody documentation. The fee may be paid by cash, check or money order Checks and money orders should be made payable to Christ Episcopal Church, with CEEP in the memo line. For more information, contact the church ofﬁce at (985) 892-3177 or CEEP Director Peggy Castle at pcastle@christchurchcovington

PROVIDED PHOTO Joy Patterson and Matt Bell

(6 feet 9.5 inches).

Looking back on St. Tammany’s state champions

The 2024-25 high school sports season is ofﬁcially in the books and the numbers don’t lie It was another special season in St. Tammany Parish.

There are 15 high schools that compete in the LHSAA in this parish, yet far more state titles come back to the parish every year Last season, St Tammany athletes took home 39 individual state titles and 12 team titles those team titles don’t count the eight relay titles that came in the pool or on the track. If you do the math, it adds up to 59 state titles in 10 different sports. That’s beyond impressive.

Below is a recap of each state crown, starting with the state volleyball tournament in November and ending at the outdoor track and ﬁeld championships on May 10. In between, there are many miles and many hours of practice to become the best in the state Congrats to all our state champions below. Nov. 16, 2024

The LHSAA State Volleyball Tournament was a good day for St. Tammany teams, with two squads Northlake Christian and Slidell taking home team titles. The Wolverines claimed their second straight Division IV title with an impressive sweep of Dunham. Senior and Southeastern signee Abigail Bailey won her second straight Outstanding Player award with 14 kills and ﬁve blocks. That was just the beginning.

Storybook Ending

Loyola second baseman, Mandeville alumnus named to NAIA World Series All-Tournament Team

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

When Mandeville alumnus Brandon Mooney joined the Loyola baseball team in 2023 he set a new school record for hits and runs scored during his ﬁrst season.

It was just the beginning.

LSU star, St. Paul’s alum Kade Anderson named Sugar Bowl Athlete of the Month for May STAFF PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK LSU starting pitcher Kade Anderson pitches against Purdue Fort Wayne on opening day, Feb 14, at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge.

report

Kade Anderson, the star left-handed pitcher for LSU, has been selected as May’s Allstate Sugar Bowl Athlete of the Month presented by LCMC Health on June 5 Athletes of the month have been selected by the New Orleans Sports Awards Committee since 1957. The athlete must be a native of the greater New Orleans area or compete for a team in the metropolitan region to be eligible. Anderson, a sophomore from Madisonville who graduated from St. Paul’s, posted a 4-1 record in May as he

See ANDERSON, page 2B ä See CHAMPIONS, page 2B

Now, the senior helped Loyola make its ﬁrst trip to the NAIA World Series in school history

The Wolf Pack went 1-2 at the World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, and Mooney made a little more Loyola history in the process. He was named second baseman on the 2025 Avista NAIA World Series AllTournament Team.

“It feels great,” Mooney said. “It was an honor to make the World Series and to be a member of the All-Tournament team It was a long time coming. We’ve been working towards it for a while. It didn’t just happen in one season. We just kept getting better and better I’m proud of all the guys for what we accomplished this season.”

Since this was Loyola’s ﬁrst trip to the World Series, Mooney became the ﬁrst student-athlete in program history to earn this honor The Wolf Pack’s World Series win came against No. 24 British Columbia in an elimination game. In both losses, Loyola also had the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning.

Mooney started the week 1 for 4 with an RBI and a walk, then turned in a 4-for-4 performance with three runs, two doubles and a home run in the win over British Columbia. He capped off his week by going 2 for 6 against Cumberlands in the Wolf Pack’s ﬁnal game.

“It was kind of like the perfect ending,” Mooney said. “It was awesome to ﬁnish out my Loyola career up there.”

He finished the 2025 campaign with a school record 91 hits and 81 runs scored, adding a .386 batting average, 48 RBI, 26 doubles and ﬁve home runs.

It was a storybook ending to a college career that had a rocky start.

He redshirted his freshman year at LSU-Eunice in 2021.

“It was kind of a wake-up call,” Mooney said. “I had a lot of success in high school, so I thought I was top of the line. Once I got to college I got humbled really quickly. It was

“I had a lot of success in high school, so I thought I was top of the line. Once I got to college, I got humbled really quickly It was exactly what I think I needed.”

BRANDON MOONEY, NAIA World Series All-Tournament Team second baseman

exactly what I think I needed.”

Mooney said he got to watch LSUEunice win the NJCAA World Series and pick the minds of the older guys.

“That year, I learned what it took to be a college ball player and how much work it took. It was an eyeopening experience,” he said.

He spent time at designated hitter during his second season at LSUEunice as he battled a nagging hip injury Instead of spending a third season at Eunice, he searched for a four-year college.

“I didn’t really have any offers or anything, but Loyola reached out and took a chance on me. It just worked out,” Mooney said.

But the hip discomfort persisted.

“I could barely get out of bed in the morning,” Mooney said.

Rehab was yielding some improvements, but the original option was surgery, which would have sidelined him for a year Then, he tested positive for Ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis characterized by long-term inﬂammation of the joints of the spine

“They put me on medication for it, and it ended up working,” Mooney

said. “I was back to normal my second year at Loyola. It was a huge relief.”

In 2023, the redshirt sophomore started all 53 games at second base while setting new single-season school records for hits (81) and runs (63).

The Wolf Pack’s leadoff hitter also led the team with a .411 batting average, 22 stolen bases and 18 doubles while being named an SSAC All-Conference ﬁrst-team selection and taking home an SSAC Gold Glove at second base

“Everything that happened, happened for a reason. I just tried to stay positive and kept working, kept grinding and getting better I’m glad it worked out,” Mooney said.

“It was a great feeling (being healthy again). When I was dealing with it, I just wasn’t myself. I’m fast and athletic. That’s what made my game mine. I just couldn’t be that. I would get hits, but I was always at a jog. I was just out there doing jobs wherever they needed me.”

Over his three-year Loyola career, he started 169 games, but he’s not done yet. Mooney said he plans to continue to chase his baseball dreams.

“I’m deﬁnitely planning to continue to play,” he said. “I’m not ready to hang it up just yet. I’m looking to keep playing, but if not, it’s already the perfect ending. It was a historic season. I got to go up there to Lewiston with the fellas and be a part of

STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

Slidell’s Gionni Wiltz clears the bar during the high jump at the LHSAA Class 5A track and field championships on May 10 at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium in Baton Rouge. Wiltz ended his stellar high school career with a Class 5A state title in the high jump

Joseph Halm Staff

During his time at Loyola, second baseman Brandon Mooney was named an SSAC All-Conference first-team selection and took home an SSAC Gold Glove at second base.

PROVIDED PHOTOS BY LOYOLA UNIVERSITY

Loyola second baseman Brandon Mooney was named to the 2025 Avista NAIA World Series All-Tournament Team on June 2

CHAMPIONS

In the Division I final, top-seeded Slidell knocked off four-time reigning state champion Dominican in four sets to earn its first LHSAA volleyball state championship since 1997. The Tigers became the first public school to win a Division I volleyball state title since Fontainebleau in 2011 Slidell coach Danny Tullis coached both teams. Demoni Lewis and Addyson Dowell combined for 27 kills, and Dowell earned the Outstanding Player Award

Nov. 18, 2024

Christ Episcopal continued its dominance in cross-country. Junior Noah Watson won her third straight Division V individual state championship with a time of 19 minutes, 40.57 seconds.

Watson wasn’t the only champion as the Wildcats swept the Division V boys and girls team titles for the second time in three years.

Nov. 21, 2024

Not only did Pope John Paul II have two outstanding swimmers at the Division IV state meet at the SPAR Aquatic Center in Sulphur, but the Jaguars also took home both the girls and boys team titles for the ﬁrst time in school history Senior Mady Hill and junior Eric Ring earned outstanding swimmer honors. They each won two events and swam on two winning relay teams. Hill, who swam on the 200-yard medley relay that set a division record with a time of 1:53.01, also won the 50 freestyle (24.34) and 100 butterﬂy (56.96). She was also a part of setting a new Division IV state record in the 400-free relay (3:43.62). Freshman Braylee Ladner was also a double state champion in the 100 freestyle (53.38) and 200 freestyle (1:59.71).

Senior Taylor Frick won the 500 freestyle (5:24.57).

On the boys’ side, Ring swam on the winning 200-yard medley relay (1:42.61) and won the 200 freestyle (1:42.08) and 500 freestyle (4:35.24). The boys also set a division record in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:31.58), bettering a mark set in 1994 by Vandebilt Catholic.

Senior Wyatt Combs was a double individual state champion in the 100 butterﬂy (51.39) and 200 IM (1:56.37) Nov. 23, 2024

St. Scholastica’s swimming dominance continued as the Doves won their 14th straight Division II team title at the LHSAA state swim meet. They did so with a balanced effort as SSA took ﬁrst with 365 points, 91 points ahead of second-place Ruston. Senior Gabby Hall and junior Emma Mae Smith were both double individual state champions.

Mandeville freshman Avery Daigle won outstanding swimmer honors at the LHSAA Division I state swim meet on Nov. 23.

Hall, a Colorado State signee, won the 100 butterfly (56.75 seconds) and 100 backstroke (56.47) in her final high school meet. Smith placed first in the 200 freestyle (1:56.13) and 100 freestyle (52.49). Hall and Smith were also key parts of the first-place 200-yard freestyle (1:40.46) and 400-yard freestyle (3:42.44) relays. Hall swam the opening leg, and Smith was the anchor of both events. While SSA dominated Division II, Mandeville freshman Avery Daigle won individual state titles in the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle en route to outstanding swimmer honors in Division I. She won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:50.81, nearly three seconds faster than second place. In the 100 freestyle, her time of 50.36 seconds was nearly two seconds ahead of second place. She also swam the leadoff leg of the firstplace 200-yard freestyle relay (1:37 91) with senior Mia Pettivino, junior Emma Cate Dobie and freshman Sydney Eagan.

Pair of Lakeshore athletes pick their college destinations

Staff report

A pair of Lakeshore athletes recently signed to continue their athletic careers in college. Spencer Rogers, left, is headed to play football at Division III Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss. A twoway player, the 6-foot, 230-pound Rogers played tight end (three catches, 51 yards) and defensive end (25 tackles, two sacks). Point guard Jerelmy Carr will play basketball at Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska. Carr averaged ﬁve steals, four points, 3.5 assists and three rebounds per game last season.

their

players

over Shaw during the LHSAA Division II Select State Basketball Championship game at The Burton Complex in Lake Charles on March 15.

Her leadoff leg (23.13) in the relay and 100 freestyle times earned her two AllAmerican considerations. Dobie won the 100 breaststroke (1:04.59).

In Division I boys’ competition, Mandeville senior Kayden Hedrick won the 500 freestyle state crown (4:33.19).

Feb. 15, 2025

St. Paul’s senior Jackson Peak and sophomore Scott Cascio claimed state titles for the second straight season at the LHSAA Wrestling State Tournament in Bossier City Peak (30-2) was simply dominant at 215 pounds, recording five pins on his way to a second state title with a pin of Airline’s Danon Walker Peak won at 190 pounds last season. Last season, Cascio became the first freshman in St. Paul’s history to win a state title when he claimed the 106-pound crown. This season, Cascio moved up to 120 pounds and faced some adversity Coming into the state tournament as the fifth seed, Cascio (29-5) earned a hard-fought 4-2 victory in the semifinals before claiming the state title with a 10-3 decision over Jesuit’s Max Belsome in the finals.

Feb. 20, 2025

St. Scholastica eighth-grader Caroline Todd scored two goals to bring down seven-time reigning state champion St Thomas More 4-1 in the Division II state soccer ﬁnal. She was also named the game’s Most Outstanding Player

The Doves were the reigning Division I state champs but moved down to Division II after reclassiﬁcation making the match a rare battle of defending state champions. After falling behind 1-0, SSA scored four unanswered goals to earn back-to-back state titles. Arianna Taylor and Carlie Perrin also scored for the Doves.

Feb. 22, 2025

The road to St. Paul’s 12th state soccer title was not supposed to make a stop in 2025.

The Wolves were young and playing one of the most demanding schedules in the state. They started slow, with a 10-5-3 record in January They were awarded the sixth seed in the playoffs, which was uncharacteristically low for the powerhouse program.

But when the time came, St. Paul’s did what it’s done best over the past 15 years — win in the postseason.

For the ninth time since 2011, St. Paul’s claimed the Division I state championship with a 2-1 win over No. 4 Catholic High. It was the Wolves’ ﬁrst title since beating Catholic in 2023 and the lowest seed they’ve ever had in a championship season.

Senior Holger Padilla-Aviles scored the game-winning goal on a perfectly placed cross from Bordes in the 72nd minute.

Bordes was named the Most Outstanding Player Liam Dannels-Smith scored the other Wolves’ goal.

While St. Paul’s claimed the state soccer title in Hammond, the indoor track and ﬁeld championships were happening in Baton Rouge.

Mandeville junior Brayden Berglund won the Division I 800 run (1:58.34), while the Skippers’ 4x800 relay team also won a state title. Slidell senior Gionni Wiltz won the Division I high jump state crown (6 feet, 10.75 inches).

March 15, 2025

The second-seeded Hawks had just completed a thrilling 59-55 Division II select championship game victory over top-seeded Shaw at Burton Coliseum.

When Hannan won its ﬁrst state title in 2022, the Hawks shot 82% for the game to set a new state record. Saturday’s game was a defensive slugfest.

Hannan senior and Most Outstanding Player Drew Timmons made key baskets down the stretch as he ﬁnished with 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting, while senior AJ Thompson had 11 points and ﬁve rebounds.

It was a total team effort from senior Zach Lauro’s corner 3 for Hannan’s ﬁrst points to Lauro’s steal on the ﬁnal Shaw possession to seal the game as the Hawks held off a second-half comeback.

March 27, 2025

Northlake Christian won their ﬁrst girls powerlifting state team title by edging out D’Arbonne Woods Charter for the Division IV state title.

A 205-pound deadlift by freshman Molly Hutchinson at 97 pounds clinched the state crown. She was disqualified on her first two deadlift attempts but came through on her third lift in one of the final lifts of the meet.

The Wolverines ﬁnished with four individual state champions. The state champions included Eliana Trevino at 132 pounds (lifts totaling 790 pounds), Taylor Durham at 165 (lifts totaling 895 pounds), Korynne Engolia at 198 (lifts totaling 850 pounds) and Emelia Dautrieve at 220 (lifts totaling 940 pounds).

Pope John Paul II also had three individual state champions. Shelby Fischer won the 148-pound weight class with lifts totaling 745 pounds. Super heavyweight

MaKensie Scott took home a state title and set four school records in the squat (370 pounds), bench (175 pounds), deadlift (350 pounds) and total lift (895 pounds). On the boys’ side, senior Sean Smith won a state title at 275 pounds and set two Division IV state records with a 465-pound bench press and a ﬁnal lift total of 1,585 pounds.

March 28, 2025

A trio of Covington senior powerlifters earned their elusive individual state titles at the Division I State Powerlifting Meet. Covington senior powerlifter Camille Crutcher completed a deadlift of 295 pounds to capture her first individual state title. Crutcher wasn’t the only senior to claim their first state crown. Kaylee Robin won at 165 with lifts totaling 1,025 pounds after a runner-up finish last season. For 123-pound lifter Lila Cooper, the state meet was not only a chance to claim her first state title — she won with lifts totaling 885 pounds — but also to best her state squat record. At the South Regional, she set a new state squat record of 350 pounds, a 15-pound increase from the previous record. At the state meet, she squatted 355 pounds on her third attempt. Slidell senior Cara McFarland was the lone other Division I state champion from St. Tammany, winning the 97-pound division with lifts totaling 645 pounds. In Division II, St. Scholastica junior Juliet Gaffney won a state title at 114 pounds as she amassed 725 total pounds lifted.

March 29, 2025

Pearl River senior Jesse Gonzalez won a state title in the 181-pound class and was named Most Outstanding Lifter in the Division II heavyweight group with lifts totaling 1,470 pounds.

Covington senior JT Sylvera won the 132-pound class in Division I and attempted to break his own deadlift record but settled for a 530-pound deadlift. He still managed a 1,235-pound total.

Lakeshore’s Isaiah Koontz was a state champion in the Division II 242-pound class and came close to a state record on his ﬁnal deadlift attempt.

April 29, 2025

St. Scholastica tennis players Riley Fitzmorris and Lauren Boudreau felt that this had to be their year Fitzmorris was returning from a shoulder injury that derailed her sophomore and junior seasons, so the best friends knew this would be their last chance to lift a state championship trophy Mission accomplished.

The duo knocked off the defending state championship team of Hannan juniors Avery Lewis and Claire Cancienne to earn a 6-2, 6-2 victory in the Division II doubles state title match at the LHSAA state tennis championships at Forsythe Park in Monroe. The state title match was a rematch of the regional ﬁnal that the SSA duo won 6-2, 7-6. The duo didn’t drop a set at the state tournament and only lost 10 games in ﬁve matches during their title run.

May 10, 2025

Slidell senior Gionni Wiltz ended his stellar high school career with a Class 5A state title in the high jump (6 feet, 9.5 inches), and Northshore freshman Grace Keene won her ﬁrst outdoor state title by taking the 1600-meter run (4:59.93) in the LHSAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Contact Joseph Halm at jhalm@ sttammanyfarmer.net.

ANDERSON

helped the Tigers to the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. In his five May starts, he recorded a 2.30 ERA, allowing 22 hits and eight runs in 31.1 innings to go with 54 strikeouts. He had double digits in strikeouts in four of his five appearances to give him ten 10-plus K performances on the season. His 12 strikeouts in the win over Texas A&M on May 3 are the school record for punch-outs in an SEC Tournament effort. In his NCAA Regional appearance against Dallas Baptist on May 31, he tossed seven innings of four-hit, shutout ball while striking out 11 to key the Tigers’ victory “And Kade, as Kade has been all year was the best pitcher on the planet tonight. And executed at a high level,” LSU head coach Jay Johnson said after the Dallas Baptist victory Anderson pitched seven innings Saturday in the first game of LSU’s NCAA Super Regional against West Virginia at Alex Box Stadium. LSU won 16-9. The Tigers beat West Virginia 12-5 on Sunday to advance to the College World Series. For the year, the southpaw has a 9-1 record with a 3.28 ERA and

PHOTO BY HERB GOMEZ

A pair of Lakeshore athletes recently announced their college destinations. Spencer Rogers, left, is headed to Belhaven University to play football while Jerelmy Carr will play basketball at Peru State College.

PROVIDED PHOTO

SSA seniors Lauren Boudreau, left, and Riley Fitzmorris celebrate after winning the Division II doubles state title at the LHSAA state tennis championships on April 29.

STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

St. Paul’s defenseman Liam Murphy (2) and St. Paul’s midfielder Grayson Vogt (4) carry the championship trophy across the field as the team celebrates defeating Catholic in the Division I state soccer championship on Feb 22 at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond

PHOTO BY KIRK MECHE Hannan

celebrate after

victory

PROVIDED PHOTO

Bethea, William 'Bill'

William "Bill" Bethea, a devoted family man, deco‐rated Army veteran, and respected leader in the oil and gas industry, passed away on Thursday, May 29 2025. He was born on Sep‐tember 28, 1938, in Greenville, Missouri Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Patsy; his children William C. Bethea, Jr. Lorie Anne Bethea Dalton, Michael B Bethea, Claude W Bethea and James C Bethea; his stepchildren Aleecia L. Milligan and Joseph Rocco Fezio III; along with many grandchil‐dren and great-grandchil‐dren who brought great joy to his life He was pre‐ceded in death by his ﬁrst wife, Claudette R Cordilla Bethea; his parents, Oscar Walter Bethea and Gladys Olene Choate Bethea; and his siblings Betty Anne Twigg, Theodore W Bethea, and Oscar W Bethea, Jr. A proud gradu‐ate of Louisiana State Uni‐versity, Bill earned a Bach‐elor of Science in Petro‐leum Engineering degree and ﬁeld he remained pas‐sionate about throughout his life. He served honor‐ably with the 101st Air‐borne Division of the U.S Army and continued his service in the Army Re‐serves, ultimately attaining the rank of Major Bill began his professional ca‐reer with the Louisiana De‐partment of Conservation before joining Texaco where he rose through the ranks to become Opera‐tions Manager for the East‐ern Hemisphere during a 20-year tenure. He went on to hold leadership roles at Aminoil, Taylor Energy, and W&T Offshore, helping shape each company into a major player in the indus‐try Later, he co-founded Explore Enterprises and worked in partnership with Woodside Energy to form Woodside Energy USA. In 2007, he founded OTC, guiding it into a leading provider of compliance in‐spection and digital pres‐sure testing services in the offshore oil and gas sector Known for his larger-thanlife personality, wit, and leadership, Bill left a pro‐found impact on his col‐leagues friends, and the industry he helped build His legacy lives on in the many people he mentored and inspired Arrange‐ments by E.J. Fielding Fu‐neral Home in Covington.

Buras, Donna Lee Bulloch

Donna Lee Bulloch Buras passed away Wednesday May 28, 2025, in Covington, Louisiana, surrounded by her family She was born in Covington on April 29, 1932, to Wilson Donice Bulloch and Aline Gavin Bulloch, now deceased Donna Lee was the beloved wife of her late husband, Leon C “Blo” Buras She is sur‐vived by her children, A Wayne Buras (Millie), Leon C “Buddy” Buras (Ram‐sey), and Sherrie Buras Manton (Norman); also, her siblings Michael Bul‐loch and Sandy Nordgren; also, her grandchildren Allen Buras (Christa Swiger), Ryan Buras (Si‐mone), Blair Guillaume (Rhaoul) Adam Buras (Jes‐sica), and Hilary Scheffy (Robert); and her greatgrandchildren, Avery, Beau, Ella, Yvette, Giselle, JeanLuc, Eli Andrew, Jack, Susu, Anna, Anthony, and Currey. Preceding her in death were two grandchil‐dren David Manton and Meghan Manton, daughterin-law Sherrie Rodwig Buras, her siblings Betty Bruhl Donice Bulloch and David Bulloch, and her niece, Cynthia Nordgren Breland Donna Lee was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church and for‐mer member of the St. Tammany Parish Hospital Guild. She leaves behind many nieces, nephews and friends. The family would also like to thank Allie Womack and Chri tine Butler for their caring kind and love durin Do ee’s last year. E Fiel neral Home was en with funeral arra nts.

her siblings, Michael Bul‐loch and Sandy Nordgren; also her grandchildren, Allen Buras (Christa Swiger), Ryan Buras (Si‐mone), Blair Guillaume (Rhaoul), Adam Buras (Jes‐sica), and Hilary Scheffy (Robert); and her greatgrandchildren, Avery, Beau, Ella, Yvette, Giselle, JeanLuc Eli, Andrew Jack Susu, Anna, Anthony, and Currey Preceding her in death were two grandchil‐dren, David Manton and Meghan Manton, daughterin-law Sherrie Rodwig Buras, her siblings Betty Bruhl Donice Bulloch and David Bulloch, and her niece, Cynthia Nordgren Breland. Donna Lee was a member of St Peter’s Catholic Church and for‐mer member of the St Tammany Parish Hospital Guild She leaves behind many nieces nephews and friends The family would also like to thank Allie Womack and Chris‐tine Butler for their caring, kindness, and love during Donna Lee’s last year. E.J Fielding Funeral Home was entrusted with funeral arrangements.

Clifford, Karl Hoblitzelle Karl Hoblitzelle Clifford passed away on Saturday, March 15, 2025. He was born in Baltimore MD on March 9, 1953. He is sur‐vived by his loving wife Mary Elizabeth Carlin Clif‐ford; his son Gavin Clif‐ford. He is also survived by his siblings and nieces nephews, cousins, and wonderful lifelong friends He was preceded in death by his parents Alice Colt Clifford and Alfred Hoblitzelle Clifford; and siblings Harry Clifford He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. E.J Fielding Funeral Home was entrusted with funeral arrangements.

Cooper, Denise S.

Denise S Cooper of Slidell, Louisiana, passed away in her sleep on June 3, 2025, at age 71, after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia. She is the cher‐ished wife of Clayton S Cooper, with whom she would have celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary on June 14, and the beloved mother of Can‐dace L. Cooper She was retired after a long career spent teaching at Our Lady of Lourdes School Denise was born in Jackson, Mis‐sissippi to the late George and Doris Selby, and was later joined by a sister, Betty with whom she re‐mained close throughout her entire life. Even as a child, Denise would pull out a blackboard in front of her sister and the neigh‐borhood children and play the role of teacher— it was a calling from a young age She attended Mississippi State University for her teaching degree, and it was there she met her hus‐band, Clay. After their col‐lege graduation and wed‐ding in 1975, Clay and Denise moved to Houston, Texas where Denise spent several years teaching So‐cial Studies at Klein High School When Clay got a new job in New Orleans in 1982, the couple and their young daughter, Candace, moved to Slidell, where Denise remained until her passing. Our Lady of Lour‐des hired Denise to teach middle school Social Stud‐ies— a position she rel‐ished and enjoyed. Over her 38 year tenure at Our Lady of Lourdes School, she taught hundreds of students, cherishing her role as a mentor and guide in each of their lives. She became close friends with many of her fellow teach‐ers and employees at the school, friendships she rel‐ished and nurtured until her passing. She was wellknown for her infectious laugh, which could be heard down the halls, and she was famous for her an‐nual singing performance of “My Grown-Up Christ‐mas List” at the Lourdes Christmas recital Her fam‐ily and close friends will miss hearing her raucous laughter and feeling her pos even the cum‐stan ts by Audu ome in Slid

ers and employees at the school friendships she rel‐ished and nurtured until her passing. She was wellknown for her infectious laugh, which could be heard down the halls, and she was famous for her an‐nual singing performance of “My Grown-Up Christ‐mas List” at the Lourdes Christmas recital. Her fam‐ily and close friends will miss hearing her raucous laughter and feeling her positive light under even the darkest of circum‐stances Arrangements by Audubon Funeral Home in Slidell.

Jones, Robert

Robert Wayne Jones

“Bobby”/ “Billy Red”, age 68, a resident of Bush, LA passed away at home on June 1st 2025. He was born on October 18, 1956 in Bo‐galusa, LA. He grew up in New Orleans in Gentilly Woods. He was a member of Gentilly Baptist Church and graduated from John F Kennedy High School and Delgado Community Col‐lege. He was a certified electrician, but his real love was music and play‐ing drums with several local rock and heavy metal bands (Apostrophe, Mad Dog, and others) as well as filling in with The Last Straws and Irma Thomas’ Band. He is survived by his sisters, Debi Adams (Jazz Shields) of Baton Rouge, Barbara (Danny) Cockfield of Metairie and nephews Daniel Cockfield & Jared Cockfield. He was pre‐ceded in death by parents, Malcolm “Bris” Jones and Mary Crawford Jones. E.J Fielding Funeral Home were entrusted with fu‐neral arrangements.

Sylvia Christian Jourdan passed away peacefully on Friday May 30, 2025 in Cov‐ington She was 92. She was preceded in death by her husband, William E “Junior” Jourdan, Jr., her parents, Tony and Bonnie Christian, and her siblings, Helen Beaver and Robert Christian She is survived by her son, William A Jour‐dan (Gail), her grandson, Zachary E Jourdan (Alaina) and her three great-grandchildren, Grady James Jourdan, Grand Marie Jourdan and Gabriel John Jourdan Sylvia worked for the St. Tam‐many Board for over During that time s an active mem he Business and al Women’s organization She was also a very involved member of the First Baptist Church of Covington. She belonged to the Lydia Ladies Sunday School class. We would like to thank those ladies for being so supportive of Sylvia until the very end. We are sure she appreci‐ated them, too. The family would like to thank the doctors nurses, and em‐ployees of St Tammany Parish Hospital for the care Sylvia received during her ﬁnal days We also want to thank the inpatient Hos‐pice caregivers, and also a heartfelt thanks to Trellis Harvey. E.J Fielding Fu‐neral Home was entrusted with funeral arrangements

Zachary E. Jourdan (Alaina) and her three great-grandchildren, Grady James Jourdan Grand Marie Jourdan and Gabriel John Jourdan Sylvia worked for the St. Tam‐many School Board for over 30 years. During that time, she was an active member of the Business and Professional Women’s organization. She was also a very involved member of the First Baptist Church of Covington She belonged to the Lydia Ladies Sunday School class. We would like to thank those ladies for being so supportive of Sylvia until the very end We are sure she appreci‐ated them, too. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and em‐ployees of St Tammany Parish Hospital for the care Sylvia received during her ﬁnal days We also want to thank the inpatient Hos‐pice caregivers, and also a heartfelt thanks to Trellis Harvey E.J. Fielding Fu‐neral Home was entrusted with funeral arrangements.

tecorvo. His presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He is pre‐ceded in death by his par‐ents Frank Meyer Sr and Elmire Walker Meyer; his brothers Frank Meyer Jr and Philip Meyer; his sis‐ters, Ethel Meyer Springler and Patsy Ann Meyer Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home

Stanga, Hilda

Hilda “Marie” Wittie

MemorialsinEverlastingQuality

Covington MonumentCo. Granite& Marble

Harold “Snake” Bernard Meyer, age 80, passed away Monday, April 28 2025 in Slidell, Louisiana Born on May 12, 1944, in the Saint Roch area of the 9th Ward of New Orleans Louisiana, Snake lived a full and dedicated life marked by hard work, neighborhood involvement and devotion to his family A proud graduate of Nicholls High School he went on to build a long and successful career at Laitram Corporation. Over the course of 44 years with the company, he earned the respect of colleagues through his commitment and reliability before retir‐ing in 2014. He was a resi‐dent of St Bernard Parish for 38 years, relocating to Slidell, Louisiana after Hur‐ricane Katrina in 2005 Snake served honorably in the Louisiana National Guard, reﬂecting his deep sense of duty and service Beyond his professional and military contributions, he was an active member of several local organiza‐tions that brought him joy and camaraderie He was involved with the Poor Man’s Yacht Club and the Krewe of Bilge, and could be found staying active at Cross Gates Gym. He is lov‐ingly remembered by his wife of 57 years, Ruth Ruthie” Rose Barbe; his sons, Scott Meyer (Jennie) and Jeffery Meyer (Mari‐lyn); and his four grand‐children Josh Pontecorvo Kendall Meyer, Sydnee Meyer and Jayden Pon‐tecorvo His presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He is pre‐ceded in death by his par‐ents, Frank Meyer Sr. and Elmire Walker Meyer; his brothers, Frank Meyer Jr. and Philip Meyer; his sis‐ters Ethel Meyer Springler and Patsy Ann Meyer. Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home, Inc., Slidell, LA.

•Monuments •Copings •Vases •Bronze •Inscriptions •Tombs Compareour quality& ourprices 2280 W. 21st Ave. •Covington •892-5050 AdjoiningPinecrest MemorialGardens www.ejfieldingfh.com

The HistoryofFather’s Day

Thecelebration of Father’s Dayismost likely credited to Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington State, who first suggested the idea of the holiday in 1909.

Mrs. Dodd’s father,civil war veteran William Smart, waswidowedwhen his wife died in childbirth with their sixth child. Despite the obvious hardships, Mr. Smartbyhimself raised the newborn along with hisfiveother children.

It wasn’t until Sonora Dodd became an adult that sherealized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as asingle parent. Theoriginal date chosen for the holiday was June 5, Mr.Smart’sbirthday

Today the 3rdSunday of June is setaside to honorour Dads and to remember those whohave passed away.

Stanga, age 89, of Coving‐ton Louisiana, passed away on Thursday, May 29, 2025. She was born on March 22, 1936, in Robert, Louisiana She is survived by her loving husband of nearly 60 years, Henry “Vernon” Stanga, Jr.; brother Curtis Wittie (Bar‐bara); and many extended family members and friends She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence Jacob Wittie and Hilda Robertson Hinckley; and siblings Patsy, Rose Ann, and Silvia; and many extended family members and friends Marie at‐tended Champ Cooper School and graduated from Hammond High School She was a past member of the Madisonville Garden Club and particularly loved raising cows—she would talk to them and about them as if they were her own children She was al‐ways ready and willing to lend a hand to any family member or friend in need, and she will be dearly missed. In lieu of ﬂowers, contributions in memory of Mrs. Stanga may be made to a charity of your choice E. J Fielding Funeral were honored to be entrusted with Mrs Stanga’s funeral arrangements.

Weiss, Roy A. Roy A. Weiss passed away peacefully on Satur‐day, May 31, 2025. He was 88. Roy was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Roth Weiss, his parents William L. Weiss and Louise Goldner Weiss. He is survived by his daughter, Lori Weiss Gremillion and his son Ronald Weiss (Bar‐bara) and his grandchil‐dren, Elliott Weiss Matthew Weiss and Lind‐sey Harrison (Terry) and also survived by his greatgrandchild Liam Harrison Roy was born in Brooklyn, NY and was a resident of Beau Chene in Mandeville for over 30 plus years He was an avid golfer and en‐joyed playing cards with his buddies at the Club‐house E.J. Fielding Funeral Home was entrusted with funeral arrangements

Meyer, Harold Bernard

Jourdan, Sylvia Christian

of all authori‐ties having jurisdic‐ tion over construc‐tion of the project shall apply to the Contract through‐out MayorClay Madden CityofMandeville 144266JUN11-1825-3T $321.40

PUBLICNOTICE NOTICETO BIDDERS ST TAMMANY PARISH

Sealed bids will be received by the De‐partment of Pro‐curement, until 2:00 p.m.,Tuesday, July 8, 2025, and then opened and read publicly at that time by the Procurement Staff for the follow‐ingproject:

Bid#25-16-2–CampSalmen HistoricLodge Restoration

Each paper bid must be submitted in a sealed envelope

The outside of the envelope shall show the Name and Ad‐dress of the Bidder, the State Contrac‐tor’s License Num‐beroftheBidder (if the work is esti‐mated at $50k or more), the Bid Name and the Bid Number.

Theproject classificationis: Commercial Building Construction

A Mandatory prebid meeting will be held at Camp Salmen Lodge, lo‐cated at 35122 Parish Parkway, Slidell, LA 70460, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 10:00am Bids will be re‐ceived at 21454 Koop Dr., Suite 2F, Mandeville, LA 70471 from each bidder or his agent and given a written receipt, by certified mail with return re‐ceipt requested, or electronically at wwwbidexpress. com. Procurement Department 144487JUN11-1825-3T $141.61

PUBLICNOTICE NOTICETO BIDDERS ST TAMMANY PARISH

Sealed bids will be received by the De‐partment of Pro‐curement until 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 23, 2025, and then opened and read publicly at that time by the Procure‐ment Staff for the followingproject: Bid#25-20-2–St TammanyParish FishingPier

Each paper bid must be submitted in a sealed envelope The outside of the envelope shall show the Name and Ad‐dress of the Bidder the State Contrac‐tor’s License Num‐beroftheBidder (if the work is esti‐mated at $50k or more), the Bid Name and the Bid Number.

Theproject classificationis: Highway,Street andBridge Construction

PUBLICNOTICE

NOTICETO BIDDERS ST TAMMANY PARISH

Sealed bids will be received by the De‐partment of Pro‐curement, until 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 23, 2025, and then opened and read publicly at that time by the Procure‐ment Staff for the followingproject:

Bid#25-20-2–St TammanyParish FishingPier

Each paper bid must be submitted in a sealed envelope

Theproject classificationis: Highway,Street andBridge Construction

A Mandatory prebid meeting will be heldattheSt.Tam‐many Parish Fish‐ing Pier , located at 54001 Howze Beach Rd, Slidell, LA 70461 on Tues‐day,July1,2025,at 10:30AM Bids will be re‐ceived at 21454 Koop Dr., Suite 2F, Mandeville, LA 70471 from each bidder or his agent and given a written receipt, by certified mail with return re‐ceipt requested, or electronically at wwwbidexpress. com. Procurement De‐partment 144517JUN11-1825-3T $140.41

Sealed

PUBLICNOTICE

NOTICETO BIDDERS ST TAMMANY PARISH

Sealed bids will be received by the De‐partment of Pro‐curement until 2:00 p m ,Tuesday, July 1, 2025 and then opened and read publicly at that time by the Procurement Staff for the follow‐ingproject:

Bid # 25-19-2 – St John Church Rd

Bridge

Each paper bid must be submitted in a sealed envelope The outside of the envelope shall show the Name and Ad‐dress of the Bidder, the State Contrac‐tor’s License Num‐beroftheBidder (if the work is esti‐mated at $50k or more) the Bid Name and the Bid Number

Theproject classificationis: Highway,Street andBridge Construction

This bid package is available online at wwwbidexpress com or LaPAC https://wwwcfprd doa louisiana gov/ osp/lapac/pubmain cfm It is the Ven‐dor s responsibility to check Bid Ex‐press, or LaPAC fre‐quently for any pos‐ sible addenda that may be issued The Parish is not respon‐ sible for a Vendor’s failure to download any addenda docu‐ments required to complete a submis‐sion Bids will be re‐ceived at 21454 Koop Dr, Suite 2F, Mandeville, LA 70471 from each bidder or his agent and given a written receipt, by certified mail with return re‐ceipt requested, or electronically at wwwbidexpress com

Procurement Department 143065JUN4-1118-3T $128 14

Sealed bids will be received by the De‐partment of Pro‐curement until 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 9, 2025, and then opened and read publicly at that time by the Procure‐ment Staff for the followingproject:

Bid#25-22-2BrewsterArea RoadMaintenance

Theproject classificationis: Highway,Street

Sealed bids will be received by the De‐partment of Pro‐curement, until 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 9, 2025, and then opened and read publicly at that time by the Procure‐ment Staff for the followingproject: Bid#25-22-2BrewsterArea RoadMaintenance

Theproject classificationis: Highway,Street andBridge Construction

This bid package is available online at wwwbidexpress. com or LaPAC https://wwwcfprd doa louisiana.gov/ osp/lapac/pubmain. cfm. It is the Ven‐dor’s responsibility to check Bid Ex‐press, or LaPAC fre‐quently for any pos‐ sible addenda that may be issued The Parish is not respon‐ sible for a Vendor’s failure to download any addenda docu‐ments required to complete a submis‐sion. Bids will be re‐ceived at 21454 Koop Dr., Suite 2F, Mandeville, LA 70471 from each bidder or his agent and given a written receipt, by certified mail with return re‐ceipt requested, or electronically at wwwbidexpress. com.

Procurement Department 144085JUN11-1825-3T $128.14

PUBLICNOTICE

NOTICETO BIDDERS ST TAMMANY PARISH

Sealed bids will be received by the De‐partment of Pro‐curement until 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 24, 2025, and then opened and read publicly at that time by the Procure‐ment Staff for the followingproject: Bid # 25-18-2 –Northshore Circle and Lakeview Dr Improvements Each paper bid must be submitted in a sealed envelope The outside of the envelope shall show the Name and Ad‐dress of the Bidder the State Contrac‐tor’s License Num‐beroftheBidder (if the work is esti‐mated at $50k or

PUBLICNOTICE

NOTICETO BIDDERS ST TAMMANY PARISH

Sealed bids will be received by the De‐partment of Pro‐curement, until 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 24, 2025, and then opened and read publicly at that time by the Procure‐ment Staff for the followingproject:

Bid # 25-18-2

Northshore Circle and Lakeview Dr Improvements

The project classi‐ficationis: Highway,Street andBridge Construction

This bid package is available online at wwwbidexpress. com or LaPAC https://wwwcfprd doa louisiana.gov/ osp/lapac/pubmain. cfm. It is the Ven‐dor’s responsibility to check Bid Ex‐press, or LaPAC fre‐quently for any pos‐ sible addenda that may be issued The Parish is not respon‐ sible for a Vendor s failure to download any addenda docu‐ments required to complete a submis‐sion. Bids will be re‐ceived at 21454 Koop Dr Suite 2F Mandeville LA 70471 from each bidder or his agent and given a written receipt, by certified mail with return re‐ceipt requested, or electronically at wwwbidexpress. com.

Procurement Department 142342‐MAY28JUN4-113T $131.83

PUBLICNOTICE

REQUESTFOR PROPOSALS

Proposals will be re‐ceived by the St Tammany Parish School Board, 321 N TheardStreet, Covington, Louisiana 70433, until 4:00 PM, Monday, June 30, 2025on

RFP#201CHROME‐BOOKSAND CHROMEBOOK SUPPORT2025

Additional informa‐tion and specifica‐ tions will be fur‐nished to upon re‐questattheSchool Board Office Pro‐posal documents can also be found on wwwstpsb org/bids

Each proposal shall besealedinanenve‐lope clearly marked ontheoutside, RFP#201CHROME‐BOOKSAND CHROMEBOOK SUPPORT2025

The St Tammany ParishSchoolBoard reserves the right to adjust quantities by increasing or decreasing and to reject any and all proposals

ST TAMMANY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD /S/MATTHEW E GREENE,President /S/FRANKJ JABBIA, Superin‐ tendent 143365JUN4-11-2T $59 86

PUBLICNOTICE

Anyone having in‐formation or know‐ing the whereabouts of Lubertha M Lewis, please con‐tact attorney Jim Mecca at (985) 3774750 or

please contact Ali‐son C. Bondurant, Attorney at Law 109InnwoodDrive, Suite 2, Covington, LA 70433, (985) 327-2227. 143981JUN11-1T $84.08

PUBLICNOTICE Anyone having in‐formation or know‐ing the whereabouts ofJohnEarlTisdale, Linda Jane Willis Tisdale, Rance Roland Frye, II, Janie Tisdale Frye, Morgan Ray Frye, and Katelyn Frye Keating, please con‐tact attorney Jim Mecca at (985) 8924006 or at P.O. Box 3880, Covington, LA 70434. Court proceedings in‐volved.” 144530JUN11-1T $102.28

PUBLICNOTICE Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the Succession of RoseJ.Smithand/or their heirs, succes‐sors, or assigns, please contact Atty Jessica L. Karr, 321 N. Vermont

St Tammany Parish Council lo‐catedat21490Koop Dr., Mandeville, LA, on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 6:00 p.m to con‐sider levying addi‐tional or increased millage rates with‐out

PUBLICNOTICE

nounces that the St Tammany Parish Health and Human Services Commu‐nity Action Agency has been issued an application package for the EmergencySolutions Grants Program (ESGP)administered by the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC). Funding available under the Emer‐gency Solution Grants Program is dedicated for street outreach to home‐less,paymentofcer‐tain services related to operating emer‐gency shelters, homeless preven‐ tion and rapid re housingservices

gram activities. Nonprofit organiza‐ tions interested in developing a project proposal for possi‐ ble inclusion in an ESGP funding ap‐ plication under con‐sideration by Com‐munity Action Agencymayrequest a copy of the pro‐ posal materials by contacting St Tam‐many Parish Health and Human Ser‐vices Community Action Agency at (985)646-2090.

and

PUBLICNOTICE SOLICITATION OF PROJECT PROPOSALS Louisiana Emer‐gency Solution GrantsProgram St Tammany Parish President, Michael B. Cooper, an‐nounces that the St Tammany Parish Health and Human Services, Commu‐nity Action Agency has been issued an application package for the EmergencySolutions Grants Program (ESGP)administered by the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC). Funding available under the Emer‐gency Solution Grants Program is dedicated for street outreach to home‐less,paymentofcer‐tain services related to operating emer‐gency shelters, homeless preven‐ tion and rapid re housingservices

Applicants for grants under the State ESG Program are limited to units of local government which may distrib‐ute all or part of their grant amounts to private nonprofit organizations for use in eligible Pro‐gram activities. Nonprofit organiza‐ tions interested in developing a project proposal for possi‐ ble inclusion in an ESGP funding ap‐ plication under con‐sideration by Com‐munity Action Agencymayrequest a copy of the pro‐ posal materials by contacting St Tam‐many Parish Health and Human Ser‐vices Community Action Agency at (985)646-2090.

The following resolution wasoffered by Walter J. “Dub” Lane,Jr. and seconded by Joseph “Joe” DiGiovanni, Jr.: RESOLUTION Aresolution providing forcanvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in St. TammanyParish Hospital Service District No 2, on Saturday, May3,2025, to authorizethe incurring of debt and issuance of bonds therein. BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of CommissionersofSt. TammanyParish Hospital Service District No.2 (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of St. TammanyParish Hospital Service District No.2(the “District”), that: SECTION 1. Canvass.This Governing Authority does nowproceed in open and public session to examine the official tabulations of votes cast at the special election held in the District on SATURDAY,MAY 3, 2025 (the “Election”), to authorizethe incurring of debt and issuance of bonds therein pursuant to the following proposition (the “Proposition”):

HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NO.2PROPOSITION (BOND)

Shall St. TammanyParish Hospital Service District No.2(the “District”), incur debt and issue bonds to the amount of not exceeding $51,520,000, in one or moreseries,torun not exceeding 20 years from the date thereof,with interestataratenot exceeding 7% per annum, forthe purpose of constructing, acquiring, extending and improving hospital and related health carefacilities of the District, and acquiring equipment and furnishings therefor,including, to the extent feasible, those specificprojects forcancer and emergency care, outpatient pediatric care, primary careand women’s and infant health care, all as set forth in the “Capital Improvement Plan” approved by the District on January 6, 2025, title to which shall be in the public; which bonds will be general obligations of the District and will be payablefromad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by ArticleVI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the StateofLouisiana of 1974, and statutory authority supplemental thereto, with no estimated increase in the millage rate to be levied in the first year of issue above the 5.99 mills being levied to payGeneral Obligation Bonds of the District?

This Governing Authority does further proceed to examine and canvass the returns of the Election thereof SECTION 2. Election Results.According to the official certified tabulation of votes cast at said Election, therewas atotal of 4,446 votes cast IN FAVOROF the Proposition and atotal of 4,056 votes cast AGAINST the Proposition, resulting in amajority of 390 votes cast IN FAVOROF the Proposition. The Proposition wasthereforeduly CARRIED by amajority of the votes cast by the qualified electors voting at the Election. SECTION 3. Promulgation of Election Result. The results of said election shall be promulgated by publication in the manner provided by law, after receipt from the Secretary of State’soffice of the actual costs of the election, as required by §18:1292 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended.

proposal or reject any and all propos‐alsonsuchabasisas may be deemed to be in its best inter‐est.The deadline for receipt and consid‐eration of a proposal is 4:30 PM, July 3, 2025.

Sincerely, TanjaHill Director 143982JUN11-1T $84.29

PUBLICNOTICE

To qualify for fund‐ing participation, a private nonprofit or‐ganization as de‐fined by Program regulations must be one which is exempt from taxation under subtitle A of the In‐ternal Revenue Code, has an ac‐countingsystemand a voluntary board, and practicesnondiscrimination in the provision of assistance. Match‐ing funds (including in-kind contribu‐tions) equal to the amount of grants funds must be pro‐ vided except under special circum‐stances when an ex‐emption can be al‐lowed. Program rules require that ESGP recipients in‐volve, to the maxi‐mum extent practi‐cable, homeless in‐dividuals and fami‐lies in ESG funded activities, including constructing, reno‐vating, maintaining, and operating facili‐ties assisted under the ESG Program and in providing services for occu‐pants of these facili‐ties.

To qualify for fund‐ing participation, a private nonprofit or‐ganization as de‐fined by Program regulations must be one which is exempt from taxation under subtitle A of the In‐ternal Revenue Code, has an ac‐countingsystemand a voluntary board, and practicesnondiscrimination in the provision of assistance. Match‐ing funds (including in-kind contribu‐tions) equal to the amount of grants funds must be pro‐ vided except under special circum‐stances when an ex‐emption can be al‐lowed. Program rules require that ESGP recipients in‐volve, to the maxi‐mum extent practi‐cable, homeless in‐dividuals and fami‐lies in ESG funded activities, including constructing, reno‐vating, maintaining, and operating facili‐ties assisted under the ESG Program, and in providing services for occu‐pants of these facili‐ties.

funds must be pro‐ vided except under special circum‐stances when an ex‐emption can be al‐lowed. Program rules require that ESGP recipients in‐volve, to the maxi‐mum extent practi‐cable, homeless in‐dividuals and fami‐lies in ESG funded activities, including constructing, reno‐vating, maintaining, and operating facili‐ties assisted under the ESG Program and in providing services for occu‐pants of these facili‐ties.

No funding obliga‐ tions shall be im‐plied based on the information in this solicitationofESGP project proposals. The St Tammany Parish Department of Health and Human Servies, Community Action Agency reserves the right to accept any proposal or reject any and all propos‐alsonsuchabasisas may be deemed to be in its best inter‐est. The deadline for receipt and consid‐eration of a proposal is 4:30 PM July 3, 2025.

Sincerely, TanjaHill Director 143982JUN11-1T $84.29

STATE PROJECT NO H 015406& FEDERAL AID PROJECT NO H015406 RecallNo :107018 LOCK NO 3 ROADBRIDGE ST TAMMANY PARISH

Tammany Parish owned and main‐tained Lock No 3 Road Bridge, a 4span concrete bridge that passes over Smith Creek along Lock No 3 Road Proposed plans include the re‐placement of the ex‐isting structure with four (4) 20-ft con‐crete spans and steel pipe piles The pro‐ ject also includes the installation of 75-ft guardrails and embankment wideningalongboth sides of

The

site Lock No 3 Road Bridge, will be closed during con‐struction for ap‐ proximately 8-12 months and no

Forte&Tablada, Inc

Attn:BoydHolmes, PE 9107Interline

Exhibit “A” attached hereto and made apart of this Procès Verbal is acopyofthe Notice of Special Election and proof of publication thereof THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Slidell, Louisiana, on this,the 29th dayofMay,2025.

No funding obliga‐ tions shall be im‐plied based on the information in this solicitationofESGP project proposals

ATTEST: /s/ Kristen R. Stanley-Wallace /s/ Walter J. Lane Chairman Secretary

EXHIBIT “A”

The Louisiana De‐partment of Trans‐portation and De‐velopment in con‐junction with St Tammany Parish Government and the Federal HighwayAdministration is proposing a project to replace the St Tammany Parish owned and main‐tained Lock No 3 Road Bridge, a 4span concrete bridge that passes over Smith Creek along Lock No 3 Road Proposed plans include the re‐placement of the ex‐isting structure with four (4) 20-ft con‐crete spans and steel pipe piles The pro‐ ject also includes the installation of 75-ft guardrails and embankment wideningalongboth sides of the bridge The project site, Lock No 3 Road Bridge, will be closed during con‐struction for ap‐ proximately 8-12 months and porary deto be providevanced warn ill

porary detour will be provided Ad‐vanced warning sig‐nage will be pro‐ vided throughout the duration of

struction activities There is a public boat launch located at the end of Lock No 3 Road cur‐rently maintained by St Tammany Parish The property that includes this boat launch is owned by the U S Army Corps of En‐gineers who man‐aged the site when they operated Pearl River Navigational Canal Lock No 3, until it was decom‐missioned in 2016 The bridge is not a part of the boat launchfacility,how‐ever traversing the bridge is the only ingress/egress to and from the boat launch The boat launch facilitates access to the Pearl RiverCanalsouthof Lock No 3 and the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area Those resources

The bridge is not a part of the boat launchfacility how‐ever traversing the bridge is the only ingress/egress to and from the boat launch The boat launch facilitates access to the Pearl RiverCanalsouthof Lock No 3 and the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area Those resources will not be accessi‐ble to the public from this boat launch for the dura‐tion of the project If you have comments about the proposed project,mailthemto the address shown below postmarked byJune30,2025(30 days)

Forte&Tablada, Inc Attn:BoydHolmes PE 9107Interline Avenue BatonRouge LA 70809 142557‐MAY28JUN4-1118-4T $1734 12 byJune30,2025(30 days)

The St Tammany Parish Department of Health and Human Servies, Community Action Agency reserves the right to accept any proposal or reject any and all propos‐alsonsuchabasisas may be deemed to be in its best inter‐est.The deadline for receipt and consid‐eration of a proposal is 4:30 PM July 3 2025.

NOTICE

Pursuant to the pr of Commissioners of St. Tamman “Governing Authority”), acting Parish Hospital Service District NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN the District on SATURDAY,M therewill be submitted to all entitled to vote at the said election State of Louisiana and the Constitution proposition, to-wit: HOSPITAL SERVICE

Sincerely, TanjaHill Director 143982JUN11-1T $84.29

Shall St. TammanyParish “District”), incur debt and $51,520,000, in one or mor the date thereof,with inter forthe purpose of constructing, hospital and related health equipment and furnishings those specificprojects fo pediatric care, primary car set forth in the “Capital Impr on January 6, 2025, title to will be general obligations valorem taxes to be

and

SECTION 4. Declaration. The foregoing results of the Election areherebydeclared by this Governing Authority and shall be published as required by law. SECTION 5. Procès Verbal. A Procès Verbal of the canvass of the returns of the Election shall be made and acertified copythereof shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State,Baton Rouge,Louisiana, whoshall recordthe same in her office; another certified copythereof shall be forwarded to the ClerkofCourt and Ex-Officio Recorder of Mortgages in and forthe Parish of St. Tammany, whoshall recordthe same in the MortgageRecords of said Parish; and another copythereof shall be retained in the archivesof this Governing Authority This resolution having been submitted to avote, the vote thereon wasasfollows:

BoardMembers YeaNay Absen t Abstaining

Larry P. Englande,Sr. X_

Joseph DiGiovanni, Jr.X Walter J. Lane X_ Georgia M. Johnson X_ Francis J. Pettito X_ Robert C. Mercadel X

No funding obliga‐ tions shall be im‐plied based on the information in this solicitationofESGP project proposals The St Tammany Parish Department of Health and Human Servies, Community Action Agency reserves the right to accept any proposal or reject any and all propos‐alsonsuchabasisas may be deemed to be in its best inter‐est.The deadline for receipt and consid‐eration of a proposal is 4:30 PM July 3 2025.

Sincerely, TanjaHill Director 143982JUN11-1T $84.29

TommyC.Morris X_ James W. Newton X_ Kristen R. Stanley-Wallace X_ And the resolution wasdeclared adopted on this,the 29th dayofMay ,2025.

/s/ Walter J. Lane /s/Kristen R. Stanley-Wallace Secretary Chairman PROCÈS VERBAL OF THE CANVASS OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN ST.TAMMANY PARISH HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NO.2,ONSATURDAY,MAY 3, 2025.

To qualify for fund‐ing participation, a private nonprofit or‐ganization as de‐fined by Program regulations must be one which is exempt from taxation under subtitle A of the In‐ternal Revenue Code, has an ac‐countingsystemand a voluntary board, and practicesnondiscrimination in the provision of assistance. Match‐ing funds (including in-kind contribu‐tions) equal to the amount of grants funds must be pro‐ vided except under special circum‐stances when an ex‐emption can be al‐lowed. Program rules require that ESGP recipients in‐volve to the maxi‐mum extent practi‐cable, homeless in‐dividuals and fami‐lies in ESG funded activities, including constructing, reno‐vating, maintaining, and operating facili‐ties assisted under the ESG Program, and in providing services for occu‐pants of these facili‐ties.

BE IT KNOWN AND REMEMBERED thatonThursday, May29, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., at its regular meeting place,the Slidell Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Center SkyviewConference Room (#302), 1120 Robert Blvd., Slidell, Louisiana, the Board of CommissionersofSt. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No.2 (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of St. TammanyParish Hospital Service District No.2(the “District”), and being the authority ordering the special election held therein on Saturday, May3,2025, with aquorum of the Governing Authority present did, in open and public session, examine the official certified tabulations of votes cast at the said election, and did examine and canvass the returns of the said election, therehaving been submitted at said election the following proposition, to wit:

HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NO.2PROPOSITION (BOND)

Shall St. TammanyParish Hospital Service District No.2(the “District”), incur debt and issue bonds to the amount of not exceeding $51,520,000, in one or moreseries,torun not exceeding 20 years from the date thereof,with interestata rate not exceeding 7% per annum, forthe purpose of constructing, acquiring, extending and improving hospital and related health carefacilities of the District, and acquiring equipment and furnishings therefor,including, to the extent feasible, those specificprojects forcancer and emergency care, outpatient pediatric care, primary careand women’s and infant health care, all as set forth in the “Capital Improvement Plan” approved by the District on January 6, 2025, title to which shall be in the public; which bonds will be general obligations of the District and will be payablefromad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI, Section 33

Sincerely, TanjaHill Director 143982JUN11-1T $84.29

count and canvass thattherewas atotal of 4,446 votes cast IN FAVOROF the Proposition and atotal of 4,056 votes cast AGAINST the Proposition, as hereinabove set forth, and it wasfurther found and determined thattherewas amajority of 390 votes cast IN FAVOR OF the Proposition as hereinabove set forth. Therefore, the Governing Authority did declareand proclaim and does herebydeclareand proclaim in open and public session thatthe Proposition as hereinabove set forth wasduly CARRIED by amajority of the votes cast by the quali